It is the last race of the road season for me, but I don’t know it.
I don’t know it until halfway through stage 2 when the bunch is going down a straight descent into Dungarvin. A rider comes down somewhere in front on the left, and a dominoes game of falling cyclists begins. Given the speed there isn’t much that can be done. I swerve round a few bikes and riders and water bottles, then a white frame bounces up in front of and bang.
So instead of getting a kicking on the last two stages, I take some photos instead. I brought along my Canon eos 1n that’s almost as old as myself, and a couple of rolls of Kodak Tri-X. Before going to wartch the finish of the last stage atop the Nire, I added a roll of Kodak Gold 200 courtesy of Boots.
STAGE 1: GETTING THERE (+100km with hills)
Stocking up on suppliesClassic wheelsArchitectural Triumph?Derek ready to roll; the stage start was delayed by 20 minutesPost stage 1, eating pasta with a plastic spoon.Selfie after stage 1, finished in the bunch, lots of guys ‘up the road’Gear drying after a rinse. It was still wet the next morning.Clonmel, though this is actually in Waterford on the South bank of the SuirThe River Suir got some fancy bridges with flood-proofing and snippets of literatureSuir Island, West WardClonmel Rooftops, home to pigeonsClonmel Window display, flowers and curtains
Stage 2: LUMPY ROAD STAGE
5 hours in Clonmel A&E clogging up the place with other guys who came down in the spill on the descent into Dungarvin after less than 40km.
Stage 2 didn’t go exactly as planned (Samsung S2 + Instagram filters).
Stage 3: CRITERIUM; WET WET WET
The criterium is neutralized for GC due to monsoon rain. Riders only have to complete 20 minutes to stay in the race, and most choose to pul out after this.
Finishing straight for the critThe streets are wet and shinning in the rainThe strong riders figure out the best lines early on and stick to them lap after lapUCD rider walks back after falling on a bendPaidi O’ Brien, centre here, is in the front split, while most other riders pull outJLT Condor’s Luke Grivell-Mellor gets a gap in the last few laps and goes on to win comfortablyRiders had to complete 20 minutes to stay in the overallRonan closing a gapDaire Feeley putting the power downMurky night for racingFast pace despite the monsoonLined out at the frontGetting back to shelter after the finishLicence to SellThe Ice Cream ConeHotel EntranceInterior, post raceClonmel Rooftops at nightSuir Island at night
STAGE 3: THE VEE AND THE NIRE
Window View of ClonmelMorning Self(ie)Open SpaceMy 19th Century airbnb home for the weekendRiver SuirPre-race chatAidan gearing upDerek heading to the startReady to rollRace Start
Clonmel Streets on a Bank Holiday Monday
Abbey StreetTown Hall12 W. MagnerWindow DisplayExpensive facade and bell towerChampionRight onlyR. O’Donnell Select BarNo collections to the right of this signWindow reflectionRyan’s Butchers 1Ryan’s Butchers 2; closed after 109 yearsButler’s BarHouse of Lourdes (spot the cat)Liam DalyLe JardinPower & Co.The Men of ’98The Golden Harp, LoungeClonmel Carpets window displayClonmel CarpetsKOM Start on the race-finishing Nire ClimbOn the Lower SlopesTeam CarEd Laverick (JLT Condor) reachs the top with a minute over the nearest rival, winning both stage and overall.SecondThird, the wearer of the leader’s jersey at the start of the stageEoin Morton from UCD finished well on the climbDaire FeeleyNational Champion Damien Shaw (Team ASEA) rode aggressively on the final stage to try and get clear before the climb but was hauled back before the Nire climb by the teams of the other GC ridersRonan finished strongly on the 10km climbFinishers arrive in ones and twosDerek after crossing the lineAidan after the stageThe Recovery beginsPrize giving pub
