Here's a little piece from the archives, Brian Ahern's Rás diary from 2004, ten years ago. An eventful race for the Orwell legend, he goes into great detail on what is an eight day sufferfest for most. It's revised and updated, as he claims he originally typed it with one finger of one hand (spoilers!). 

 

The Rás Diary

Brian Ahern

The Riders: Donal Byrne, Gary McNulty, Alan Lane and myself. The 5th member of our team was due to be Brian Lennon of the St. Tiernan’s club. As many of you know, Brian died suddenly over the May Bank Holiday weekend. He was one of the nicest guys you could possibly meet and obviously enough, Brian was never far from our thoughts throughout the week. May he rest in peace.

The driver and mechanic #1: David Lane.

The Manager and mechanic #2: Eamon Finn.

The Helpers: Tony Hogan until Wednesday and Eddie Lynch for the rest of the week

The Masseuse: Ciara Crooks.

The Orwell Team Car: A Lexus!

 
Sponsors and the team. Photo by Paul Tansey

 

Stage 1, Sunday 23rd May, Dublin - Trim, 132 Kms.

I rode the 2 miles down to Chapelizod after spending the morning on the Jacks. There was a carnival atmosphere down at the West County as all the riders exchange best wishes for the week. I met the lads and got my pre-race rub off Ciara, our masseuse for the week. It’s amazing the way you relax after meeting all the lads and just start having a laugh…all nerves seem to go out the window. Rolling into O'Connell St. was a bit of a fiasco as we hit gridlocked traffic. Sunday in Dublin city….what do people be doing? It was great to see the Orwell Cheerleaders in town to wish us all the best!! Nice sunny weather for the ceremony and before long off we went for the 10km neutralised zone out to the Malahide rd. where we stopped for a few minutes.

Off we go, Best of luck lads! There goes a Swede, there goes Casso after him along with a few other nutcases. I decide not to do anything stupid but just bide my time. It's a long week. Along the pot-holed roads we go and there was a great crowd in Stamullen to watch us hammer through the village and over the first climb of the Rás. Legs were a wee bit heavy but satisfactory. I felt better on the hard road from Slane to Collon. That's always a good sign when you feel better as the race goes on I tell myself (PMA). Somehow I managed to go to sleep while 5 lads steam off the front containing a rider from each of the main 4 teams and the race turned very negative for the last 40kms. This wasn't how I remembered the Rás. Where were the lineouts? The crosswinds? The rain? I won’t complain, the week is long. I had a few goes but didn't get far. I was tempted to try and get up in the gallop for 5th but I heard Fitzy arriving with his shouting and his argy-bargy tactics and didn't want to be paying James Connolly Mem hospital a visit this early in the week and rolled in

Grand job - first day is over. Donal was also in the bunch but Alan lost contact on that tough Slane drag and Gary had been dropped on the first climb in Stamullen. To be honest I didn't think he'd make it to Thursday,

The B&B in Kilmessan was a disgrace - A re-heated Sunday dinner. The spuds were shrivelled, the broccoli and carrots were mushy and the lamb was dry. Alan really liked it though.


Donal Byrne looking comfortable. Photo by Paul Tansey


Gary McNulty. Photo by Paul Tansey

 

Stage 2, Monday 24th May, Trim - Oranmore, 167 Kms.

Alan and I rode the 11kms into Trim to loosen up. Another beautiful morning and in stark contrast to last years stage 2, 188kms from Roscrea to Clifden into a headwind in the lashing rain with “It’s raining men” stuck in my head. Worst day most current Irish riders have spent on a bike.

Off we go for stage 2. I sat in the bunch for the first hour and then started to go with a few moves. When riding across to a small move I looked behind me to see that David O'Loughlin of the Irish Team was on my wheel. The guys we were catching slowed down and I hammered by them and David and myself were away. The gap went to 20secs fairly quickly and I had a look at my watch and saw that we had been riding for 1hr 50mins. This may sound like a terribly vein excuse to get into a breakaway but the lunchtime news was on in 10mins. If we stayed away for about another 12minutes I could be getting my name mentioned by Roy Willoughby on the 1 o'clock 2fm bulletin. And I did - Score! It’s great for morale and also for the sponsors. That O'Loughlin chap is some motorbike. I worked with him as best I could. We had been away for about 25kms hovering at about 40secs when the gap started coming down, but then Denis Lynch, also of the Irish Team came across to us and we put the hammer down again and the gap went back out to 50 seconds but the Slovenians hit the front of the peloton and brought us back.

As far as I was concerned that was a job well done. A good 40km break with 2 savages. I really didn't see any break staying away so I decided to save myself for tomorrow. That was when I fell asleep as group after group started getting away and I was left behind. I'm a plonker. Alan and Donal were in my group but Gary got into a group ahead of us. I was delighted for him after he got it so rough yesterday. That's 2 days over, 6 to go…. I took the Lexus out for a drive to the shops! Man that's a class car. Eamon and Dave were doing a great job on the bikes. The chains sparkling and not a spec of dirt on them. You feel like such a pro getting on an immaculate bike every morning. Ciara was doing a great job also, spending an hour on each one of us. We were being spoiled rotten!! It’s what you need when you ride a race like this.


Alan Lane looking relaxed before a stage start. Photo by Paul Tansey


This race is obviously not hard enough. Photo by Paul Tansey

 

Stage 3, Tuesday, 25th May, Oranmore - Charleville, 152 Kms.

The route wasn't too severe again today with just 3 Cat 3 climbs. I thought it might suit me. I punctured in the first 15kms but didn't panic, got a back wheel and rode back on through the cavalcade without too much bother. The only problem was that the wheel was a bit dodgy with the gears slipping when I put it under any pressure so I was pretty much stuck in the 53 x 12 for the day. I considered stopping to get another wheel but there was no guarantee that the new wheel would be any better. I lacked the confidence to go back to the team car which way back at in the cavalcade at about car 21. David Lane used to get all excited when he heard that one of us wanted to get fed so he could drive the Lexus up the outside of the cavalcade like a mad man. The racing was just up and down over the little hills with a few line-outs in between over some of the worst roads in the country including loose chippings where roadworks were taking place. Good ould craic though. A group of about 20 riders were up the road and Donal and I were in the bunch. I nearly came down coming into the last 2kms when a Kazach's pedal went into my front wheel. I just managed to control the bike but the wheel was badly buckled with 3 damaged spokes in my Ksyrium SL.

I didn't find today terribly difficult, but I'm a little disappointed to be missing all of the breaks. Maybe tomorrow. Alan and Gary both lost a bit of time but are doing well. Alan hasn't seen the broom wagon this week and has a bit of banter going with Mick Lawless. "I have my eye on you!!"

Sharing a room with Gary tonight and he was telling me that he won a few underage titles in Aidan Duff's age group and was up in European underage competitions too….what a God!!


Dave Lane - our driver. Photo by Paul Tansey

 

Stage 4, Wednesday 26th May, Charleville - Cahirciveen, 181 Kms.

The first real test. Kerry roads are notoriously savage. A Kerry mile is considered to be a mile and a half among cyclists. This was also the longest stage and hit the dreaded Coonanaspig after 160kms with 20kms

To cut a long story short, the bunch was all together hitting Caherciveen for the first time with just the 40km loop remaining. All the Orwell boys were there too. The Swedes hit the front and lined out the race and riders were dropping like flies. I was a bit too far back - about 30 from the front when a gap opened going over a Cat 2. I know from experience that if you hesitate in this situation your screwed so I just put the head down and went for it trying to close the gap with Denis Lynch, a welsh guy and a German. We were off the back of the break at 5 secs for about 3kms but after a massive effort we eventually closed the gap. I had done it, I was in the select group. There were 14 of us and the peloton were at 40 seconds. I was sitting on the back of the break containing 2 county riders. Happy Days! I was the only domestic county rider up there - Dermot Nally was the other, the pro riding with the Galway Team.

We then started the Cat 1 climb of Coonanaspig and as the pace stepped up I went south. I had cracked big-time and could only zig-zag my way up the climb. I think it was just the mileage that got me. Being used to riding 110km races on the domestic scene, it's a different story being able to tackle a climb like this after 160kms with 20kms to go. The climb is not unlike Mamore Gap in Donegal only it's a bit longer. 39 x 23 and doing wheelies when you climb sitting in the saddle because of the gradient. I could have done with a 25 sprocket on. About half way up the climb I was caught by the peleton that was splitting up and I went over the top and down one of the most beautiful descents in the country looking over at Valentia island. When you have time to look at the scenery I think it's a bad sign! I finished in the 3rd group a bit disappointed not to have stayed with the front lads but I suppose my lack of international competition this year is a big reason. I don't like making excuses though…I just didn't have the legs.

The lads are doing well. Donal seems to have the prize for the 2nd category rider under his belt which is great. The morale of the team is high and at this stage of the race that's so important with good banter at the dinner table in the evenings and, more importantly the mornings!

Getting a massage to the sounds of the "Mamas and Papas" this evening. I can’t wait for next Monday-Monday. We were staying a hotel that was like that place out of the shining. A closed down 1970's hotel but this place had the most spectacular views I have ever seen. I had a pint tonight as well and slept like a log as a result…..

 
Donal Byrne. Photo by Paul Tansey

 

Stage 5, Thursday 27th May, Cahirciveen - Millstreet, 152 Kms.

What a day! I was still a little disappointed this morning at being dropped yesterday and Ciara (jokingly??) told me to cop myself on and get a result today and stop all my fancy talk about how brilliant I am! Gary and Alan were both dreading the first Cat 1 climb of Coomakista that came after 20kms. Neither of them are the strongest of climbers and if you get dropped so early you might be in trouble to finish within the time limit. And poor ould Gary was dropped….Alan was still with us.

The next Cat 1 was that of Inchee Mountain came after about 60miles and I rode over the top of that very comfortably in the top 10 in the bunch and feeling good. Alan was dropped at this stage and Donal was with me in the peloton. It was towards the bottom of the descent that the fun started for me. I punctured on the narrow descent on a tight left hand bend over a little bridge and controlled the bike into the gravel, told myself to take a deep breath, took off my wheel, not panicking. I held the back wheel in the air and waited while the remainder of the peloton went around the corner at over 40mph.

The problem for me was that because the bunch had split up on the climb and roads were so narrow there were no cars with wheels there to service me so I had to wait for what seemed about 20 minutes for a spare wheel. 20 minutes may be a slight exaggeration but it was a really bad wheel change. Larry Farrell serviced me and put on a Mavic Helium and our car (number 21) passed me out and pulled in. In behind the car I go and I was a long way off the cavalcade but got there eventually and then Dave, driving like a rally driver took me up the outside of the cavalcade with me glued to his bumper on the most narrow, pot-holed roads imaginable. One of the most dangerous cycling experiences I have ever had but I was in that mad-man mode with adrenaline. I eventually got onto the back of a group but these lads were dropped and there was about a 30 second gap to the peloton with no cars in between. I tried to get the group organised and working together but they were all knackered so I had to try closing it myself. Richie Cahill, who had crashed earlier, came with me and after a massive effort, we closed it. Nice one I thought.

Then I see the sign for the 3rd cat climb. The 3rd Cat's had all been ok during the week with the bunch riding steady over them. Not this one. It was line-out city. Hammer was down and wheels were being let go all over the place. And because I started it practically last man I just couldn't close the gaps. I was dropped and was very close to throwing the head. The race was split all over the road and I was going backwards. I let myself take a breather and decided to wait and see if the cavalcade was going to be let through…and eventually they did and I found myself with 3 of the Surrey team stuck to their Team cars' bumper at 60mph. Dave overtook us at 90 and said that he wasn't going much faster than us. I still had to battle my way through the cars and the commissaire had left a gap of about 300 meters to the back of the bunch that I had to close myself. I did it! Thank God! I got on with about 30kms to go, happy to be in the bunch and hoping to stay there to the finish. I then started thinking to myself that this might be the only chance I get during the week of getting up on a stage. The bunch was closing in on a break that had been away all day and it was shaping up for a bunch finish so up I went and found myself in the top 20 hitting the last kilometre.

It’s very difficult to describe a sprint finish. Its 50% positioning, 20% speed, 20% luck and 10% for just being a nut-case. My luck happened with about 900meters to go when a GB Team riders wheel blew out a few riders in front of me and he pulled over to the right and taking a few riders with him to the side of the road. It opened up for me and I dived through the gap like a lunatic and into the top 10. I moved up on the right hand side being careful not to go flat out too soon up the uphill finish into the headwind. I went flat out from about 200 meters and went around Tommy Evans, and Paul Griffin in the last 100 meters to finish 2nd behind some guy called Malcolm Elliot. What a result! Eddie came leggin’ it up the road towards me jumping up and down and I was nearly crying with joy. My relatives from Glengarriff had come to see the finish too so it was great to have the fan club there. Up on the podium, getting interviewed, being presented with the award for the top county rider and the added bonus of a blue, stage winners’ jersey as Elliot was holding the Green points jersey. Fantastic!

What made the day all the more terrifying was that when Dave took off my back wheel the skewer disintegrated in his hand. I was doing all that mad stuff with a back wheel that could have collapsed underneath

Donal had also finished in the peloton and Alan had been dropped on the last big climb. Gary arrived in with the broom wagon a good bit down but happy to be still in the race. Fair play! I got back to the van and the phone calls, text messages and tributes were coming in thick and fast from the friends and family who had heard the result on the radio or TV. It’s days like this that make the hard training all winter long worth while, sacrificing my social life and all that!! I had a grin on my face all night and slept with the blue jersey beside me in the bed.


Malcolm Elliott gets it! Brian Ahern riding for Orwell gets 2nd. Photo by Paul Tansey


Ahern collecting the jersey and the flowers. Photo by Paul Tansey

 

Stage 6, Friday 28th May, Millstreet - Seskin Hill Carrick-on Suir,

From hero to Zero is the term that springs to mind. I was strolling around the place this morning with an arrogant strut that comes with wearing a jersey from the FBD milk Rás. I was getting plenty of pats on the back from the domestic colleagues who were delighted for me. Once the racing started I was up there with the attacks for the first 10kms but missed the split.

The legs were feeling ok but I was a bit tired at this stage of the week and in particular after yesterdays’ exertions. I was looking forward to the Seskin Hill finish and my parents were going to come down to see the finish too. The race was going through my dads home territory of Ballyhooly and Fermoy and many of the relatives were out watching the race pass by. I gave the ones I saw a shout - That's great!

Then disaster struck after about 60miles when an idiot of a German carelessly discarded his musette in the feed zone. He just dropped it to his left instead of launching it into the ditch like one should. It dropped into Brian Stewarts(Usher IRC) bike right in front of me and somehow managed to find its way through his bike and straight into my front brake doing about 28mph. Over the bars I go, landing on my head, and right shoulder and tumbled and tumbled. My first thoughts were, 'can I get up?' I tried to but just couldn't with the pain in my right arm. The race doctor was straight out to me and felt my shoulder and diagnosed a broken collar bone. Out of the race. $hite. I was lifted into the ambulance and taken to Waterford General. This bloody sport can be so cruel. What a disaster. The nurses doing the X-rays wanted to cut the jersey off me but I wouldn't let them! My parents had gotten the phone call with the news just as they were arriving in Kilkenny so kept going to Waterford and brought me home. Also in the hospital was John Hammond and Andrew Usher who had come off a motorbike. John was quite seriously injured with a broken collarbone, ribs and damage to his spine and Andrew suffered a broken pelvis. Not nice…I was lucky I didn't do neck damage and when I looked at my helmet it makes you thankful that we're made wear those things. There was a defined crack in it. That could have been my head. Not good.

To sum things up

So that's my story. I went down to the Phoenix park to watch the last stage and saw the boys hammering around for the hour of racing. It all looks so damn easy from the side of the road. The 3 remaining Orwell boys got their award on the podium as I looked jealously on and that was that. I must have told the story of my crash about 50 times that day…I ended up just telling people it was just a pile up and I fell rather than bringing the whole German thing into it because everybody was asking me if I beat him up afterwards…..I didn't but someday I might!

Thanks again to the Orwell helpers, and Dundrum shopping centre for the support all week. It was a week to remember for me, mostly for the good moments. Roll on next year!


Brian Ahern

 


The Orwell boys. A job well done. Photo by Paul Tansey


Update: When riding the Rás you often compete against riders who go on to have very successful careers and 2004 was no different. It was only a few years later, after watching him winning stages of the Tour de France that I realised that I had beaten a young Mark Cavendish in a sprint. I beat Mark Cavendish….in a bunch sprint….