Wheelers start with Newbridge, Lucan and Boyne GP races
The 2024 racing season has started and despite some terrible weather, the early races have proven to be very competitive. Lakeside Wheelers members have been active in the initial races – the Newbridge GP, Lucan GP and just last weekend, the Boyne GP and the Des Hanlon Classic.
Stuart Cox took to the start line of the first two races and was joined by Neil McDermott for the Lucan race. Using the races as preparation for the upcoming Gorey 3 Day over the Easter weekend, the lads acquitted themselves well and managed to finish comfortably on both days.
A team of seven ventured over to the Royal County for the Boyne race on what was a wet and windy day last Saturday. Pete Rimmer, Richie Lenihan, Paul Murtagh, Stuart Cox, Neil McDermott, Mike McCafferky and David Lally braved the elements and some fared better than others.
Unfortunately David suffered a mechanical problem that put him out of contention and Mike just had one of those off days and pulled up before the finish. All the other guys finished well up in the bunch, which is the norm for the early season races.
Stuart and Neil were obviously feeling strong as they also raced the Des Hanlon Classic in Carlow on Sunday. That is one of the premier one-day races in Ireland and was the first round of the Cycling Ireland National Road Race League.
The aforementioned Gorey 3 Day is an international event of long standing and comprises three road stages and a TT. This year a team of three Lakeside Wheelers riders will compete and Mike McCafferky, Stuart Cox and Neil McDermott will be aiming to survive the test. There will be reports from the race in the coming weeks.
Wheelers abroad
In recent weeks some members took the opportunity to escape the rain here and headed for foreign shores and some warm weather cycling. A group of seven went to the Costa Blanca for a week and by all accounts they all enjoyed the beautiful weather and the smooth roads the area is famous for.
Paul Murtagh, Ronan Bracken, Mick Walsh, David Lally, Mark Monaghan, and Mike McCafferky were hosted by Shannonside Cycling Club’s Pat Buckley and his wife Mary at their Rafelcofer home near Gandia.
That area of Spain is favoured by practically every professional cycling team every winter such is the quality of the cycling in the hills and roads that criss cross the Costa.
The lads were delighted with the week’s training in lovely sunny conditions and were at pains to stress the hospitality afforded to them by Pat and Mary.
One of the most famous early season races in Europe is the Striade Bianche, which is staged in Tuscany and, as the name suggests, in Italian, it features several stretches of white gravel roads.
Charlie Sheridan attended this year’s race and also took part in the sportive that is staged the day after the professional race and allows amateurs to ride some of the race route. Charlie stated that it was a well run event and enjoyed the experience of riding the famous Tuscan gravel roads.
Club gear
Some members have expressed an interest in purchasing more club kit so can any other members who wish to be part of this process please email chairman@lakesidewheelers.ie or secretary@lakesidewheelers.ie in the next week or so.