COMERAGHCC NOTES – POWER STORMS TO VICTORY
Written by: Sinead Power
The 2016 Cycling season is going to be a busy one for Comeraghcc with our Sportive in April, the An Post Ras in May and
hopefully the Paralympics in Sept for our visually impaired member Damien Vereker. However last weekend belonged
to ex-professional and two time Olympian Ciaran Power. Having retired from professional cycling in 2008 he returned
to the sport in 2014 to ride the An Post Ras for charity, unfortunately due to a family bereavement those plans were
put on hold. Ciaran turns 40 this year (I know he won’t mind saying that),he has rode the Ras on Numerous occasions
and won it twice but never in his club colours. This year Comeraghcc will be entering a Team so preparation is Key.
Comeraghcc were represented in Navan last Sunday by 3 of our riders, Ciaran Power, Martin Cullinane and Robert
Coffey. In the A3 race Robert who has returned to the sport after an absence of 21 years was happy ride to get the
feel of what racing is like again, in a field of over 80 riders he held his own finishing safely in the bunch and looking
forward to next week. Sunday belonged to our A2 riders Martin Cullinane and Ciaran Power, they rode a very tactical
race. Ciaran who is not yet at full fitness for climbing sat comfortably in the main bunch for the first lap, while teammate
Martin went up the road in a small group on lap 2, they were caught by the main field going out on the last lap when Ciaran
went away in a group of 6 riders, they stayed away until approx. 5k to go when they were caught by the main field. At
that point both riders knew it would come down to a bunch sprint, unfortunately for Martin he was caught up in a crash
within the last 2km which ended our chances of a one two! Ciaran who felt good knew if he read the sprint right he would
be in with a chance and luckily he did get it right, sprinting to victory and taking the clubs first win of many this season.
Admitting is has been so long since he won a race he was so exited he didn’t know where to put his hands but I think
A picture paints a thousand words.
We had one representative in Tralee for the Lacey cup, Tadgh De Bharra who has returned to the sport after 11 years of
an absence. The race which was handicapped had a nice climb on it which Tadgh says he didn’t have good legs for the first
lap however he did have a solo break on the climb the second time round only to be cought by the A2 group which brought
the race back together. All in all a good weekend racing by all club members.
On another note a number of our youth academy members have been selected to represent Munster on the provincial
youth panel, we would like to congratulate the following members. U14 Stephen Crowley and Luke Griffin, U16 Conor
Coleman, Jason Kenny, Ciaran O’Sullivan and Thomas Walsh. Watch this space it is going to be an exiting one for our
Youth academy.
For all information on Comeraghcc, check out our website www.comeraghcc.ie or on Facebook
