Kerry Group Rás Mumhan 2009

[-Adam-]

The past weekend was unlike any other I have experienced, an amazing experience and an amazing race.

The team all met up last Thursday morning for the journey to the far south western corner of Ireland, and the journey was far from un-eventful! The ferry crossing from Pembroke to Rosslare was the roughest ferry crossing I have ever experienced. There were people throwing up left, right and centre! The great Gary Dodd even succombed and ended up studying the bottom of the sick bag for a while, and this sight left me very close to finding my own bag to study. Not pleasant! Once we got to dry land all was well again and we continued on to Dungarven, and our overnight stop.

Before I continue, the team was led by the afore mentioned Gary Dodd, in addition to Simon McNamara, Roger Smith, Steven Saunders, John Heaton-Armstrong and myself. We were the Surrey Racing Team.

After an excellent Chinese on Thursday night we pressed on to reach our base, a beautiful farm house just outside the Race town of Killorglin. The house is owned by John Magner, a former rider himself with an impressive collection of trophies in his living room. He also had an unbelievabley strong accent, which we all struggled to understand whilst he was explaining how to use the washing machine etc! After briefly settling in we popped back to town to sign on. The race itself is pretty prestigious, it's been going since the 50's and some top riders have won it in the past. It is very hotly contested. I had been warned Irish racing was far more agressive than British racing, and in just a couple of hours that was about to become painfully clear! Back to the house to get ready, then the ride to town was a perfect warm up for Friday afternoons opening 70km stage.

Stage 1. Farmers Bridge

Starting at 4pm, it was a short 70km loop out of the town out into the country, over a tough climb, and a fast run back into town. Lining up at the start, the PA man was hillarious, he kept announcing the start was to be in 5 mins, then 4 mins, then 4 mins laler it would still be 4 and a half mins til the start! All in a very strong accent of course, I couldn't help but be amused. We all had to line up in the square for a televised roll out, then the real racing began. I was moving up on the outside after about 2km when the rider I was following launched the first attack of the race, what else was I to do but follow! Was cool to get of the front at 60km/h, we didn't quite make it to where the TV crew were though!! I have to say, it's pretty hard attacking when the bunch is already moving at 55km/h (More or less for the 1st 45mins too!). All the team were attacking one after the other, then low and behold, the break that goes... we miss! It soon pulled out a big gap, so the bunch concentrated on the climb coming up. After a narrow run up we began the 2.8km Cat 2 climb, man it was steep! We flew up it though. I made the mistake of starting the climb to far down the bunch, so was always having to get past people. Over the top another small split happened, which contained Gary and Steve, but left the rest of us chasing. After a fast descent we had the 10km to go sign, and a quick run back to town. Where, not knowing the run in, I cocked up the last few bends and was way out of contention for the bunch sprint for 27th (or something!).

69.6km
Average speed of winner
Gemiddelde snelheid winnaar 44,48km/h

1. 17 Dion Beukeboom Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam 1.33'53"
2. 42 Paul Griffin Team Earl of Desmond 1.33'53"
3. 72 Brian Kennelly Engraveit.ie/Cyclways/BDBC-A 1.33'53"

26. 12 Gary Dodd Surrey Racing Team 1.36'53" @ 3'00"
34. 128 Stephen Saunders Surrey Racing Team 2 1.36'53" st
36. 11 Roger Smith Surrey Racing Team 1.37'59" @ 4'06"
38. 13 Simon McNamara Surrey Racing Team 1.37'59" st
44. 14 John Heaton-Armstrong Surrey Racing Team 1.37'59" st
71. 15 Adam Cotterell Surrey Racing Team 1.37'59" st


Stage 2. Dingle and the Connor Pass.

This was the big mountain stage, 4 climbs in all, including the 450m high Connor Pass. The weather... RAIN! It did stop for about 20mins during the stage, but it basically rainded for the entire stage! As a result the bunch was very nervous at the start, the speed was still in excess of 50km/h for the first half hour or so. No one wanted to let a break slip today, so the speed was consistently high. I ended up drfiting towards the back of the 130 rider field as I knew we had 44km til the start of the first climb. At the back I chatted to Stephen Halpin of the Irish Espoir Academy who was wearing the white young riders jersey by virtue of the actual U23 leader being in yellow! I also needed to pee, but no way was I gonna try it rolling along at that speed... in the rain!! I duly moved up for the first climb and rode up the Cat 2 beast in the front 20 riders, watching and waiting. Over the top we had a long windy, and very slippery descent, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared.

Back on the flat I had a few goes at getting of the front, and for a few minutes I was in a promising move with the yellow jersey, but the absence of the other GC men meant we were going nowhere. Shortly after a break did go, minus the yellow jersey. This meant his team were on the front driving it along to the bottom of the Connor Pass. This Cat 1 beast was used in the Tour of Ireland last year, albeit minus the rain! It's over 5km in length, probably about an av gradient of 7-8%, much longer and tougher than Box Hill say. After which there is a fast open 8km descent. It was all I could do to follow the wheels up this mountain, it was seriously tough. We weren't exactly hanging around. The real hard men forged ahead, about 15 riders or so lead over the top. With Gary and Steve in the next group, then John, Simon, Roger and I just back from that. I was struggling to hold the wheels on the descent and came very close to running out of road at one point, it was very, very, scary indeed. I had to take my glasses off in the end, at 90km/h, as they were steaming up! Anyhow, I made it down in one piece where a group of around 40 riders got together chasing the leaders. From here on there were just a couple smaller climbs left, but still about 75km to the finish.

One by one, riders were being dropped from the break, inlcuding the yellow jersey. Eventually we came to the same run in as yesterday and I was determined to go for the sprint today. And given the distance and climbs, I felt ok... So as we swung thru the last right hander, to start the short power climb to the line, I got cut up big time. I was on Gary's wheel, looking like getting a top 20 at least, if not closer to the top 10. One of the Irish Espoir riders gave me three choices, ride into him, ride into the kirb, or brake. I chose the later, as a result of that I lost a good ten places and crossed the line 25th. I was not amused. I expressed my displeasure to the offending rider, and got a hillarious barrage of Irish accented abuse back!! Haha, I guess thats racing. Disappointing though, as that was probably the best I felt all weekend.

140.2km
Average speed of winner
Gemiddelde snelheid winnaar 40,367km/h

1. 72 Brian Kennelly Engraveit.ie/Cyclways/BDBC-A 3.28'23"
2. 42 Paul Griffin Team Earl of Desmond 3.28'28" @ 5"
3. 24 Roy De Waal PPL Bellisol Cycling team 3.28'45" @ 22"

13. 12 Gary Dodd Surrey Racing Team 3.29'19" @ 56"
19. 11 Roger Smith Surrey Racing Team st
23. 13 Simon McNamara Surrey Racing Team st
25. 15 Adam Cotterell Surrey Racing Team st
29. 128 Stephen Saunders Surrey Racing Team st
42. 14 John Heaton-Armstrong Surrey Racing Team st

Okay... Half time. To be continued...

[Snoop Doug]

Wahey!! Come on - where's the rest? Honestly, anyone'd think you'd been busy on the weekend

Nice one Adam, can really feel the sense of racing enjoyment you're getting from the recent reports

[Toks]

Damn Adam, I was scared reading it. Well done mate...hurry up where's the rest?

[Sylv]

That sounds like something else, those speeds, those distances, those foreign-sounding names! Good effort.

[quote]I have to say, it's pretty hard attacking when the bunch is already moving at 55km/h

[kieran]

not bad company, Paul Griffin rode for Giant Asia for a while, Brian kennelly a double stage winner in FBD ras 2007 etc,

[Michelle]

Come on, this is exciting entertaining and scary reading, where is the rest of it ??????????

[-Adam-]

Here we go then,

Stage 3. Waterville - Waterville (Valentia and the Atlantic shore)

On paper at least, this stage was not so hard as yesterday's mountain stage. Though as those of you who race will know, it's often not the course that makes the race, it's more often the riders. Or in this case, the weather. We woke up to fog which was reducing visability to literally about 20 meters, but that was just the start. The stage started an hour down the coast at Waterville, a fantastic drive along a breath taking costal road. By the time we arrived at the start, the fog was long gone, leaving a beatiful sunny day in it's wake. There was just one small problem, the wind was blowing rather strong, perhaps around 30-40mph constant. The wind was going to be a big factor. The parcour itself was a wiggle across a map that makes the Ronde van Vlaanderen look straightforward, a few climbs, though none of them major. Bar the one on Valentia island, which I was warned was steep, narrow, and reduced to 2 tyre tracks as a result of the gravel down the middle. Nice.

As we rolled out of the town we had a long, very sedate neutralised section to clear a busy church just out of town. I needed to answer a call of nature, so I did! Riding back thru the cars was kinda fun, although I only just got back as the flag was dropped, luckily no-one attacked from the gun. The first 25km or so were quick, but not stupid, so I just made sure I stayed closish to the front to be ready for the first climb of the day. Shortly before that point, John got himself in the main break of the day. Accompanied by the young Dutchman Dion Beukeboom (3rd on GC), they didn't hang about. As a result, nor were we. After negotiating another winding descent, Brian Kennelly's team (the yellow jersey) got to the front and started drilling it. For a while this was great, but, the comfort was not to last, we turned left and bang, the wind was whipping across from the left like I have never experienced. You may have read my Jock Wadley report, well this was another level! For 10km the bunch was lined out in the gutter, there were people getting dropped all over the place. They would just pull out the line and the next guy would have to close the gap, it was utter carnage. At this point, I was really hanging, but I was still in the front group which was just catching John's break as we turned onto the bridge to Valentia island.

After a brief tail wind section, we turned left onto the afore mentioned viciously steep climb. I started dead last, not good. I was having to fight my way up the climb going past people up the gravel in the middle, bouncing off people so as to not get distanced. I made it to the summit, where upon another left turn I was left facing a short chase back on but into a block head wind. Lovely. I got on, and stuffed down a bar and a gel as quick as I could. As we descended back to the bridge I almost felt like I had recovered... Then, back onto the same road as previously mentioned. Another 10km, raging cross wind, this time from the right. Put it this way, I was now becoming intimately acquainted with the gutter. I just about clung on. A couple of turns later and we were onto the final 3 climbs of the day, and thats where it all went wrong. The first of the 3 had the wind directly behind us, as a result the speed at which we were going up it was the death of me. About half way up it, my legs would take no more. One by one the cars were filing past, I got to the summit about halfway down the convoy. Ok I thought, if only I can hang on in the cars, maybe i'll get back on. Nope! I couldn't even hold the cars on the descent. As the last one went past I looked at my computer, and realised I still had 35km to go. The prospect of soloing this was quite frankly depressing, there was a faint idea of packing, but then I thought... Sod this! I didn't survive that ferry crossing to pack on day 3, so I put my head down and got into my own rythm. On the penultimate climb of the day I saw the bunch go over the top, so I flicked onto the time on my computer to see the damage. When I reached the top, I had lost 2:30 in the space of just 5km. This was to be a purely damage limitation excercise, I thought to myself. On the plus side, the cheers you get when your on your own, off the back, are very very cool! I can only imagine they must be even better if your on your own, off the front!

The descent from that climb was awesome, near the bottom, you plummet towards the see wondering when the hell the road is going to turn the other way. Almost like being flown in a fighter jet with the pilot diving for the ground, only to pull up at the last minute. Right at the last minute, you swing left and immeadiately begin the final climb of the day. By this point I realised a group of about 15 riders was coming up to me. So I waited for them, and used the wait to get some food down me. As they came up a friendly 'up, up, up' was called, so I duly upped the pace and sat on the front of the group. More to control the pace so as they didn't drop me, than for any other reason! At this point a couple of the guys decided to chip off the front, I wasn't too fussed at this point as I knew they had a long way to go after the climb. As we reached the summit I'd actually started to recover a bit. The group was comfortable, even though it had a couple of the yellow jersey's team mates in it, though there day was done. We got down the other side and I and one or two of the others were driving it along. There was still that guy ahead of us. But no one wanted to work, everyone's head had well and truly dropped. I asked people for a bit of pride, and I just got the response that the 'race is over'. I replied, 'sorry, I thought the race was only over once you cross the line!'. One of the friendlier chaps pointed out to me that the final 10km were indeed back into a head wind, and that the guy would soon capitulate. I said:

''Oh yeah, I forgot about that one, this is your country after all!''

''Nah, we only come down here once a year!'' He replied

(Laughing) ''Well I guess it is a little bit like Middle Earth'' I said

(Laughing harder still!) ''Yep, Mordor is just over that mountain'' was his riposte.

As we got to the last 10km, the guy off the front was long gone, and so was my motivation. I then sat on the back of the group for 9.7km, until sprinting round to make sure my name was first of that group on the results. Nobody dared say a word after I had driven them along for 15km, prior to my lazy-sit-in-sprinter attitude returning! So there I was, home at last. That has to go down as probably the toughest day in the saddle for a while, I wasn't totally dead when I got to the finish, but I wasn't far away.

127.7km
Average speed of winner
Gemiddelde snelheid winnaar 39,958km/h

1. 21 NED 19760520 Tjarco Cupens PPL Bellisol Cycling team 3.11'45"
2. 42 IRL 19730212 Paul Griffin Team Earl of Desmond 3.11'45"
3. 22 NED 19870723 Raymond Werst PPL Bellisol Cycling team 3.11'45"

12. 12 Gary Dodd Surrey Racing Team 3.11'45"
28. 128 Stephen Saunders Surrey Racing Team 2 3.12'13" @ 28"
29. 13 Simon McNamara Surrey Racing Team 3.12'13" st
31. 14 John Heaton-Armstrong Surrey Racing Team 3.12'13" st
33. 11 Roger Smith Surrey Racing Team 3.12'13" st
58. 15 Adam Cotterell Surrey Racing Team 3.24'08" @ 12'23"

That was a shed load of time to lose, however, the final group came in at 41'16 down. So that makes its sound a little better at least. In fact they still had 3km to go as we were driving the other way... home!

In GC terms, this is how it looked after St. 3.

337.5km covered, at 40.998km/h (Well, Brian Kennelly was going that fast anyway!)

1. 72 IRL 19750120 Brian Kennelly Engraveit.ie/Cyclways/BDBC-A 8.13'55"
2. 42 IRL 19730212 Paul Griffin Team Earl of Desmond 8.13'57" @2"
3. 17 NED 19890202 Dion Beukeboom Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam 8.14'52" @57"

15. 12 Gary Dodd Surrey Racing Team 8.17'57" @4'02"
21. 128 Stephen Saunders Surrey Racing Team 2 8.18'25" @4'30"
31. 13 Simon McNamara Surrey Racing Team 8.19'31" @5'36"
32. 11 Roger Smith Surrey Racing Team 8.19'31" @5'36"
37. 14 John Heaton-Armstrong Surrey Racing Team 8.19'31" @5'36"
54. 15 Adam Cotterell Surrey Racing Team 8.31'26" @17'31"

[-Adam-]

I'm not deliberately trying to eek this out, but I just had an offer to go to the pub... so I'll finish off the race, with the St. 4 report later!

[-Adam-]

Stage 4.

Killorglin and Milltown.

Now after yesterdays collapse I wasn't entirely sure how I'd go for the final stage, but like I said before, I'd made it this far so I at least wanted to do something. The parcours for the day was much more suited to my tastes, two tours of a 36km circuit, followed by 6 laps (to be said with Irish accent) of the Donal McKenna circuit. Which was very much like a Belgian Kermesse, a 4.3km loop, with a couple of tight corners, and some fast long straights. The weather was much kinder today, light winds, and it looked like we would escape the worst of the rain also.

As we rolled out of town the pace was typically hot, hovering at the 50km/h mark for the first quarter of an hour. The speed seemed to drop a bit, then a break went. Now, we were banking on a bunch sprint today, as that is what traditionally happens on this stage apparently. But no, due to the top two on GC being seperated by just 2 seconds, we were fairly confident a deal must have been done amongst some of the Irish lads to allow an escape group to take the stage as long as no GC men were in it. This is exactly what ended up happening. So once the break had gone the race became something of a procession. I drifted to the rear of the now 102 strong peloton, and ended up whiling away a good hour chatting to some of the Dutch boys... ja ja, for shure. I also desperately needed a natural break, but just couldn't get the whole peeing on the bike thing happening!! By this point Brian Kennelly's Engraveit team were all on the front controlling the race, and to a certain extent it was just like the Tour's final stage. Especially as we had a long section along the nearby river. Anyhow, up to this point I hadn't witnessed a crash in just over 400km of racing, which I was really impressed with...

So coming to the finishing circuits I had finally warmed up, and was contemplating actually getting involved with the race! I timed my move up to perfection, and after a crafty bit of roundabout negotiation I found myself on the wheel of the yellow jersey as we stormed up the finshing hill into the square. I actually displaced the green jersey, Paul Griffin, to do this, not bad! So I went through the first tight corner of the circuit in 6th wheel, then low and behold I hear that sound from behind me, you know, that sound of something happening about to cause a crash. Knowing all the team would be behind me, I looked round, only to see a bike fly into the air. Luckily, all our lot avoided the crash, using pavements and all other available tarmac. We were all running in the top 20 riders. As we crossed the line with 5 laps to go, I heard the PA announce that we were still 3 m 40 s behind the break. So I decided I didn't really need to be risking crashing to stay at the front of a bunch not going for the win, or even a top 10. And in truth, the speed of the finishing circuit was beginning to tell on my legs also. I drifted back into what I assumed would be the safety of the bunch. Then on the bell lap, as a result of some foolish switching around between parked cars, three guys went down literally right in front of me. I locked my back wheel and pretty much slid through the only gap I could see, unfortunately a few guys behind me weren't so lucky and also ended up on the tarmac. I then had a frantic chase to try and limit my losses on a now flat out bunch going for what turned out to be 10th. It later transpired that even the group ahead of me split, so their were minor place changes on GC all round as a result. Luckily in the end, I didn't lose any places on GC. Not that I was defending 54th or anything!!

Ended up crossing the line relieved at not crashing as much as relieved at finishing the most major stage race I have done so far.

Stage result:

97.9km
Average speed of winner
Gemiddelde snelheid winnaar 41,892km/h

1. 8 IRL 19870910 Ciaran Cassidy Irish Espoir Development 2.20'13"
2. 78 IRL 19850419 Stephen Barrett Fermoy CC 2.20'13"
3. 84 IRL 19780417 Micheal Fitzgerald Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers 2 2.20'13"

18. 13 Simon McNamara Surrey Racing Team 2.21'54" @ 1'41"
21. 128 Stephen Saunders Surrey Racing Team 2 2.21'54" @ 1'41"
25. 11 Roger Smith Surrey Racing Team 2.21'54" @ 1'41"
33. 12 Gary Dodd Surrey Racing Team 2.21'54" @ 1'41"
39. 14 John Heaton-Armstrong Surrey Racing Team 2.21'54" @ 1'41"
62. 15 Adam Cotterell Surrey Racing Team 2.22'22" @ 2'09"

Final GC

435.4km covered, at 41.087km/h

1. 72 IRL 19750120 Brian Kennelly Engraveit.ie/Cyclways/BDBC-A 10.35'49"
2. 42 IRL 19730212 Paul Griffin Team Earl of Desmond 10.35'51" @ 2"
3. 17 NED 19890202 Dion Beukeboom Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam 10.36'46" @ 57"

19. 12 Gary Dodd Surrey Racing Team 10.39'51" @ 4'02"
22. 128 Stephen Saunders Surrey Racing Team 2 10.40'19" @ 4'30"
28. 13 Simon McNamara Surrey Racing Team 10.41'25" @ 5'36"
31. 11 Roger Smith Surrey Racing Team 10.41'25" @ 5'36"
33. 14 John Heaton-Armstrong Surrey Racing Team 10.41'25" @ 5'36"
54. 15 Adam Cotterell Surrey Racing Team 10.53'48" @ 17'59"

For perspective, of 129 starters, 102 finshed:
102. 125 Howard Botting Hambelton Road Club 12.02'31" @ 1.26'42"

So overall, I'm yet to make up my mind on my performance. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed. Saturday especially I felt I was on for a top 10, which would have been an awesome result. But as Kieran points out, some of those guys have been around the block, so just to be competitive with them is good. I just can't help but feel I had more in me that 54th @17'59'' and only 25th as a best stage placing. The season is still young though of course, there's plenty of time left to be getting big results. At least these 4 days of racing should at least set me up nicely for the next few weeks.

One little coincidence, 1759 just happens to be the year that Arthur Guiness signed the lease on the St. James' Gate brewery. Of course, the completion of the race was celebrated by all with a few pints of his legacy. Even the almost tee-total John joined in the festivities!

[-Adam-]

I did make it onto the Irish Cycling websites report of stage 4 though...

[img]http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/uploads/dscn1606.jpg[/img]

Plus final U23 Classement

1. 17 NED Dion Beukeboom Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam 10.36'46"
2. 8 IRL Ciaran Cassidy Irish Espoir Development 10.38'05" @ 1'19"
3. 9 IRL Stephen Halpin Irish Espoir Development 10.38'07" @ 1'21"
4. 6 IRL Irish Espoir Development 10.39'44" @ 2'58"
5. 55 IRL Sam Bennett Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers 10.39'51" @ 3'05"
6. 16 NED Arjen ten Dam Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam 10.39'51" @ 3'05"
7. 18 NED Tom Slagter Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam 10.39'51" @ 3'05"
8. 20 NED Melvin Boshamp Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam 10.40'57" @ 4'11"
9. 27 IRL Daniel Clifford Killorglin Credit Union CC 10.41'25" @ 4'39"
10. 19 NED Ruud Van Wel Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam 10.41'25" @ 4'39"
11. 62 IRL Patrick Clarke Castlebar TF Royal Hotel and Theatre 10.47'44" @ 10'58"
12. 25 NED Jeroen Dohmen PPL Bellisol Cycling team 10.50'27" @ 13'41"
13. 115 IRL Philip Lavery Winning Solutions 10.52'46" @ 16'00"
14. 22 NED Raymond Werst PPL Bellisol Cycling team 10.53'34" @ 16'48"
15. 15 GBR Adam Cotterell Surrey Racing Team 10.53'48" @ 17'02"
16. 4 NED Rick Beemsterboer West Fresia 11.19'08" @ 42'22"
17. 7 IRL Urban Monks Irish Espoir Development 11.21'25" @ 44'39"
18. 10 IRL Tim O'Regan Irish Espoir Development 11.31'45" @ 54'59"

[carl f]

Adam
Hats of to you sir!
Very very well done

[Andrew G]

Well done Adam, sounds like a hell of a tough race with those conditions. Those Dutch fellas are hardy buggers, I bet they were loving it when the wind was howling.

[Andy E]

Sounds like a great experience, well done Adam, like you said it should set you up nicely for the races ahead.

[kieran]

Is it just me or don't they look so young in the pic!

[Toks]

Epic stuff Adam! You've endured racing at a level most of us will never experience. I'm glad you've remain philisophically positive cause I'm convinced if you stick with it you'll be the one dishing out the pain in the coming seasons. I wonder how many of those top guys were racing in 60 minute 3rd cat crits 18 months ago? Chapeau dude, see you at Palace