The Irish Thread

24

Comments

  • kilo
    kilo Posts: 174
    Not strictly a pro cyclist but a bit easier on the eye

    673112120d956e605fc10e6df20df07692e9740895803324b6a4b9daa5bcfcabfb3ac394.jpg

    Ciara Horne who came along to our club track day in 2012.

    And a real hardman;

    BHJ024.jpg


    biography

    " ...And the crash at the bridge in Kenmare, where he broke a collarbone...dazed, bruised and bleeding, he hallucinated that the medical team were body-snatchers and escaped out the window. The next day he was strapped on to his bike and rode through the pain and on to his only Rás victory..."

    here;

    http://www.connachtcycling.com/#/mickmu ... 4531993267

    Visited him a couple of years ago, lives i one room in an old stone house, sleeps on some old pallets but still keen to stop any cyclist passing by for a chat
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ch-corner/


    "wear green and aim for corner 10."
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    1016400_378058148960917_590508562_n.jpg



    Class.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    Timoid. wrote:
    TONY.M wrote:

    You can't complain if world championships and major classics are being won though... say is Cav Irish yet? How about Sparticus? :lol:


    Well Cav ain't British. Certaintly.
    False. He's a British citizen, as are all Manxmen.
    You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
    If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
    If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    Timoid. wrote:
    TONY.M wrote:

    You can't complain if world championships and major classics are being won though... say is Cav Irish yet? How about Sparticus? :lol:


    Well Cav ain't British. Certaintly.


    Manxmen (and women) are classified as British citizens. We're keeping the Cavster, thank you very much :)

    The Isle of Man was formed when Irish giant Finn McCool scooped up a clod of earth to throw at a rival Scottish giant. The clod of earth landed in the Irish Sea and became know as the Isle of Man, the hole left behind became Lough Neagh. Therefore Cavendish is undeniably Irish.
    Epic. Get that GB jersey off Cav immediately! :mrgreen:
    You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
    If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
    If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    kilo wrote:
    Not strictly a pro cyclist but a bit easier on the eye

    673112120d956e605fc10e6df20df07692e9740895803324b6a4b9daa5bcfcabfb3ac394.jpg

    Ciara Horne who came along to our club track day in 2012.


    Ciara is no longer 'Irish'. She rides for Wales now!
  • mroli
    mroli Posts: 3,622
    One to confuse you all here: the Bay Crits green jersey winner Felix English - who is Irish

    BdXT-5YCMAEN6Zf.jpg:large

    (although born in Brighton!)
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    mroli wrote:
    One to confuse you all here: the Bay Crits green jersey winner Felix English - who is Irish

    BdXT-5YCMAEN6Zf.jpg:large

    (although born in Brighton!)

    Superb photograph and great style from English... and effort from the Boras!
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
  • John Mangan - absolute legend. http://www.killorglincycling.com/?p=827 and http://www.independent.ie/sport/munich- ... 25321.html

    At one point he was the leading race winner in France (ahead of Fignon) and on one occasion (having been banned from participating as he was a member of the NCA), lapped the world champion in a subsequent exhibition race.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    tumblr_mu3j0fjD601qhae08o1_1280.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    So Sam Bennett was born in Belgium but moved to Carrick-on-Suir which is where Sean Kelly was from before he moved to Belgium.

    --

    Also never knew this:
    Kelly and two other Irish riders, Pat and Kieron McQuaid, went to South Africa to ride the Rapport Tour stage-race in preparation for the 1976 Olympic Games. They and others rode under false names because of an international ban on athletes competing in South Africa, as a protest against apartheid.

    The Irish were suspended from racing for six months. They were racing again when the International Olympic Committee banned them from the Olympics for life.



    Dubious morals to flout the athlete protest on the terrible apartheid to compete in SA.

    And yes, it is Fat Pat being referred to.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    You sometimes see people referring to McQuaid as 'Jim Burns' which was the fake name he used.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Paulie W
    Paulie W Posts: 1,492
    Also never knew this:
    Kelly and two other Irish riders, Pat and Kieron McQuaid, went to South Africa to ride the Rapport Tour stage-race in preparation for the 1976 Olympic Games. They and others rode under false names because of an international ban on athletes competing in South Africa, as a protest against apartheid.

    The Irish were suspended from racing for six months. They were racing again when the International Olympic Committee banned them from the Olympics for life.



    Dubious morals to flout the athlete protest on the terrible apartheid to compete in SA.

    And yes, it is Fat Pat being referred to.

    There's an extended piece on this in Hunger.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,822
    IIRC, they didn't know enough about the situation, were offered a bag load of cash and a promise they'd never be found out, according to Kelly's story.

    It says a lot that I'd be told several times that "Fat Pat" had gone to South Africa but only found out "King Kelly" had gone when I read his book.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    IIRC, they didn't know enough about the situation, were offered a bag load of cash and a promise they'd never be found out, according to Kelly's story.

    It says a lot that I'd be told several times that "Fat Pat" had gone to South Africa but only found out "King Kelly" had gone when I read his book.
    Jean-Francois Pescheux, the recently retired TdF race director, was another one who went.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • dolan_driver
    dolan_driver Posts: 831
    Here is an interesting article. I never knew Coppi visited Ireland on a racing trip.

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/ret ... in-in-1959

    DD.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Contador is the Greatest
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    IIRC, they didn't know enough about the situation, were offered a bag load of cash and a promise they'd never be found out, according to Kelly's story.

    It says a lot that I'd be told several times that "Fat Pat" had gone to South Africa but only found out "King Kelly" had gone when I read his book.

    It's pretty well known. Most commentators have made out McQuaid as the villain of the piece, Kelly was 19 or something wasn't he? Not wishing to excuse him, but if I was 19 and somebody told me 'here's a load of money, just come and ride your bike' I'm not sure I'd have spent a lot of time thinking about it.
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    I think pokerface won the TT world cup given his twitter feed:

    Colin Lynch @TTworldchamp winner winner chicken dinner
    #paratrackwords #TT
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Wow that is a super impressive ride. Cool photo too...looks like he is leaving it all on the road.

    Someone give him some green glasses though.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    BsrYkWMIcAIblvD.jpg:large

    Jimmy McElroy ‏@iamjimmymcelroy · 4h
    @JTIreland1 @IreCyclingFed @AnPost_Cycling Eddie Dunbar on Wild Atlantic Way with the #AranIslands behind #jt2014 pic.twitter.com/bpr88hpyTY
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Wow if he continues like that he could be something impressive in the pro ranks in a few years.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    Same again. Let's the break get a minute just to give them hope, then crushes it.

    http://www.stickybottle.com/races-resul ... -mountain/
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Ha some lad. No idea what the competition is like. What is the drug testing like in the sort of races he is running away with?
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,530
    Hah, not quick enough. I just searched out this thread to mention this lad. Someone I know was commentating for the race and was hugely impressed by him. As I say every year, take a look at the riders who have been on the podium for this race in the last 20 years or so and it's a pretty good guide of talented up and coming riders from the UK and Ireland plus some other European countries who we will see more of in the future (it's a good guide at the other end of GC too, I was lanterne rouge in 1990 :lol: ). Last year's winner, Scott Davies, is going to be a big name soon too but this lad sounds like a really talented climber!
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    What is the drug testing like in the sort of races he is running away with?

    I don't know. It would be naive I suppose to think that there isn't any doping, even at this level but I can't think of a more depressing thought.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!