Final UCD Ras report 2010

UCD Cycling team entered the Ras for the first time in many years. The 5 man team was made up of 4 current UCD riders Anthony Walsh, Ciaran O Conluain, Fiachra Rowan, Gus Ryan and one guest rider Colm Cassidy. Colm was the only rider who had previously ridden in the Ras with the other riders having previously only ridden 3 day stage races. The Ras would be 1300km over 8 days, taking in 27 categorised climbs with an average day of approx 160km or 4 hours riding.

The amount of work that went into the preparation of this event, both before and during, couldn’t have been done by the riders alone. They had an equal amount of support staff with Killian the Mechanic, Nic the Masseur, John the team driver and Soigneur and Niall the team Manager. The club president Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh provided valuable Ras experience and was the man who helped put it all together.

The preparations for the event lasted many months and numerous team meetings and when the riders were presented at the start line on the Sunday 23^rd May in Dunboyne in front of hundreds of spectators it was a very proud moment for the boys from UCD.

The Ras is a different event for everyone. The race is made up of Professional foreign teams, International teams and domestic county teams and although each athlete arrives at the same destination each evening, the journey of each is unique. Over the course of the eight days the riders experienced a range of emotions and have stories that will stick with them forever.

One of the most enduring memories from this year’s Ras was that “grand Depart” from Dunboyne for the start of stage one against a backdrop of cheering crowds with the U2's 'Beautiful Day' resonating long into the distance. At that moment UCD were once again participating in a very significant event within Irelands sporting calendar.

Leaving aside the fact that the Ras has become a major event on the international cycling calendar, the team were more enthralled by the historical significance of participation in an event which has lasted the test of time.

The speed was about what the team expected, with pro riders constantly attacking at the front of the race and the peloton containing the 5 UCD riders chasing them down. The riders finished in Dundalk and the journey had certainly begun with 5 separate groups of riders coming in behind the leaders. This showed it had been a testing opening day.

Sadly stage two hosted a crash where 4 Spanish professional riders were taken to hospital and out of the race but all made full recoveries since. The last 50km of the race were neutralised after the mass of riders waited for the paramedics to attend to their duties. All UCD riders came safely into Carrick on Shannon where the crowds were again huge.

The next day saw the riders head for Oughterard where the race split up after what was described as the “fastest day ever” in the Ras by men who had ridden it numerous times. The riders were now going into unchartered territory of 4 consecutive days racing and this time the distances and standard of opposition were far greater than they had ever experienced.

The following days had more crashes with 3 UCD riders coming down in one large crash which caused Anthony’s bike to be completely written off. Ciaran also had to ride with severe bruising and cuts for the rest of the week. Everyone on the team had an incident that would hamper their race but all got on with the job at hand and rolled into the packed Skerries main street for the final sprint to the finish. Testament to the preparation and support the team received that despite huge obstacles being put in front of them all 5 riders came through the toughest challenge of their lives to receive their medals for becoming “Men of the Ras” and adding to the small but very successful list of UCD riders to have completed the toughest race Ireland has to offer.