Ras Diary:
Rás 2012: Stage 1
Dunboyne - Kilkenny
I am Patrick Clarke. I'm a 24-year-old full time cyclist from Castlebar, Co. Mayo but based in Belgium riding for Terra Footwear - Bicycle Line for the past two seasons.
This is my 4th time doing the Rás having competed twice previously with the Western Edge Castlebar Ras Team and once with the Irish National Squad.
My team this year is Chris Coyle, David Brennan, Peter Toohey and my brother Ciarán, all from county Mayo.
Today’s stage was relatively flat and is regarded as probably the easiest stage of this year's race.
However, it incorporated one hot spot sprint and two categorized climbs - a category 3 and a category 2.
As per usual, the ceremonial start in Dunboyne was superb, with good quality parking for teams and a large crowd to see us depart.
The neutralized local lap saw a lot of hustle and bustle as the riders fought hard to maintain their position at the front prior to reaching the official start.
Shoulder to shoulder there was no space for error.
A single tap of your breaks could mean losing position and sinking back into an endless sea of riders who are all desperate for a glimpse at the front.
From the drop of the flag though the pace was frantic, with riders were very giddy and fighting exceptionally hard for the front.
This is where you have to be but with 163 riders knowing this and the road only wide enough for maybe 10 at most, it is a very dangerous and nervous situation.
But you must not be down the back because it is highly dangerous, as anyone who crashes in front of you, is likely to then be the trap that you fall right into.
Many found this out the hard way today.
This relentless shoving did not ease all day, but its always the same on the first stage of every Rás.
Everyone has fresh legs and the opportunity to mix it up with the pros breeds sheer mayhem.
Ciaran came a cropper when a motorbike marshal lost control of his bike, smashed to the ground and brought my brother with him.
Other men fell victim to road-side traffic which created bottle necks, causing riders to slam the brakes and be tail ended.
It sounds like madness but this is all part of bike racing.
With the threats, come thrills.
The pace continued with a constant volley of attacks from both amateur and professional riders right up to the cat3 were a ferocious tempo ensued, shedding many men from the lead bunch.
Following that, we began the cat2 climb. The pros certainly don't wait around and literally drilled the pace up these climbs, trying to shake off as many guys as possible before the sprint.
I felt strong on the climb though, keeping close to the front, but it was here I made a fatal mistake of missing a bottle that one of our support crew was to provide to me on the summit.
You HAVE to drink and eat often or you will pay for it with legbreaking cramps.
It was from here with a mere 25km remaining that the dehydration began to take effect.
Legs of lead began to develop and combined with the frantic pace I was left suffering til 5km remaining were I began to move up for the gallop.
The sprint was fast and technical. At first there were many roundabouts followed by a few tight bends and then a 200m dash for the line.
I am yet to know my exact finishing position but I was safely tucked away in the lead group.
My legs feel good this evening after the stage and especially after the tip top massage I received.
Tommorow is another day so keep an eye on this blog to read of my progress.
Rás 2012: Stage 2 - 157km
Kilkenny - Gort
One would think that after the intensity and speed of yesterday's relatively flat stage that everyone would be more relaxed and that things would run smoother.
How wrong I was, but this did not deter me from having a go.
I was aggressive from the word go - fighting hard to maintain a solid position at the front of the peloton as well as following any moves that seemed as if they may develop into a breakaway.
These breaks are super hard to get into and someone like me, who may ride full-time, struggles. Everyone struggles.
This is why the race has the reputation it does, a reputation for building the stars of the future.
The Rás is famed for many things, its brutal climbs, searing speed and unpredictable nature, and this is what endears is to cyclists the world over.
Everyone wants to ride the Rás, though very few every year can or will be competitive, such is the standard.
The level of riders in the bunch is a massive leap up from an Irish domestic racer, simply because they race and train harder.
Fully-fledged international professionals can go with every attack but every effort that I make has to count, otherwise it is just energy wasted and will leave me lacking in the finale.
At about the 50km mark when the bunch was strung out in a single file line during a light crosswind, a group of riders escaped off the front and forged ahead. This included an Irishman in Conor McConvey, riding for the An Post Sean Kelly team.
That gap widened to over a minute in a very short space of time as the bunch slowed.
The gap continued to grow to close to two minutes and at this point the bunch began to stall with no teams dedicating themselves to the chase - as there were several teams represented out front and no one was committed to bringing it back, yet.
At this point a few country riders were taking advantage of the lull, attacking off the front and attempting to ride clear of the main bunch.
I saw a gap on the right of the bunch and exploited it, hammering down on the pedals and riding over to the five escapes ahead.
We rode full gas for 20km narrowing the gap to the breakaway and managed to get as close as 30 seconds at one stage.
But our efforts were taking a heavy toll and with the break within sight, our legs began to weaken and we were dually absorbed.
This was a huge shame as it contained several county men, eager to make their mark on the race.
Robin Kelly and Sean Lacey were there, as was Simon Ryan and Connor McAllister.
Slowly the lead group distanced us and as the kilometress went by, the hard chasing peloton, led by the Sparta Prague Czech team closed in on us.
We continued our efforts trying our best to reach the final climbs but we were soon updated that the Aix En Provence French team had also joined the chase.
The time gap plummeted and we were caught at the base of the first of the final three climbs after 70km out front.
I bit the bullet and dug deep as we scaled the first two climbs. My legs were screaming at me after the considerable effort I had put in earlier all day and on the final climb I was distanced from the main bunch.
I lost contact and dropped off the back of the main bunch but began chasing with about 10 others.
We rode the final 10km at breakneck speed, trying to get back on.
It was frantic and thrilling and our goal was just to catch that bunch to minimize our losses.
I crossed the line in Gort both fatigued and disappointed.
I had made a big gamble attacking to get in the break but it didn't work out.
if it had paid off I would have made massive gains on my competition but unfortunately that was not the case and I suffered for my efforts. That's cycling.
But this is the Rás and sometimes it's all or nothing.
We were far from the last group on the road as hordes of riders dwindled behind us, iall whom had fallen victim to the intense speed on the day.
I was 97th on the stage, 3 minutes and 26 seconds behind the winner. I am now 87th on the General Classification, the same time behind the yellow jersey.
Ras 2012: Stage 3
Gort - Westport
This morning I felt slightly tired and worn down after my effort in the breakaway yesterday, but I was adamant that I was going to put in a good performance as the stage finish was in Mayo and most of my family and friends would be there to see me in.
The depart was pretty much standard with us leaving the race hotel and rolling to the official start 3km outside Gort on the main Galway road.
From the drop of the flag we were off, a frantic pace was set from word go mainly due to the strong tail wind.
Speeds in excess of 60km/h were nearly constant until we came to Galway.
Many attacks were being thrown in both by the county riders and the pros but all was in vain as the high speeds swept up all the escapes.
I felt comfortable in the beginning, pushing hard to keep up the front.
I was genuinely surprised that my legs felt so good.
When we hit Galway I continued to battle hard at the front, taking no shit from anyone as we weaved throughout the multiple roundabouts that littered our passage through the city.
On the open road to Maam cross things really began to heat up as the wind changed to a crosswind and riders again started making bids for freedom.
I myself made a few attempts to escape the clutches of the bunch but none were successful.
It wasn't until I made an attempt at an escape with a Dutch rider from the Koga team that things took a turn for the better.
We shared the workload until a large group of 20 joined us from behind
The pros pressed on hard as we climbed the category 3 climb of Tir na Cille.
I felt comfortable holding the wheels in front of me as we crossed the summit which augured well at this stage as many had been long since shelled.
The weather on the day was quite drizzly, leaving the roads slick and dangerous.
This in turn made the descent very dangerous.
We forged onto the 2nd climb at Gowlaun which was about 2km in length but quite steep.
The pace was ferocious and strung the group out in one long line.
I dug deep and maintained my position, focusing hard as I reached the top and navigated the hairy descent.
Half way down a large crash took place bringing a number of riders down, including my team mate Chris Coyle.
Again, luck was on my side as I avoided all issues.
The final climb of the day was a Category 1 legbreaker but due to the bad crash at the base there was no riders willing to push the pace until all had rejoined it is kind of an unwritten rule in cycling to hold for the yellow jersey if he falls- which he did.
Once all had rejoined and we had reached the summit I decided to throw in an attack as I felt the bunch was stalling.
I forged on but my freedom was shortlived as the An Post team, driven by 5 strong men reeled me in.
I tucked in behind them as the group behind fragmented until there was only a handful of riders remaining.
The pace continued until 15km to go where we were joined by more than 30 chasers from behind.
Again I kept up the front, fighting to maintain position but with 1km to go I was riding just shy of the top 10.
The speed was relentless and the technical finish made things very dangerous.
But with 300m to go I was struck by bad luck as a rider from the UK Youth team fell beside me - his bike caught my back wheel and tore off my derailler.... Pure disaster.
I went from a near top 10 to 30th from what I understand.
Not a good finish to a what was turning out to be such a good day.
But tommorow is a new day with new opportunities.
Ras 2012: Stage 4
Westport - Bundoran
The start of the stage in Westport was at the bottom of a one kilometre drag, and as the flag dropped and the pace increased it proved a serious obstacle.
From the word go we were racing in a cross wind and it did not subside for 50km.
After 20km of racing we approached Castlebar, the home of our team and I made a point of being right in the front as we raced through town.
Upon leaving Castlebar we rode out onto the N5 which is a wide exposed road which again caused mayhem as the cross winds split the remains of the bunch into small groups.
I felt ok in this initial madness but as the line outs continued I could feel my legs weakening.
It was not until about 70km into the race that we changed direction heading towards Tubbercurry in County Sligo.
The change in direction left us with a strong tailwind which drove the pace skyward.
As we approached Tubber I put in an attack in an attempt to lead through the town as my girlfriend was coming to watch the Rás pass through.
Crowds littered the streets as I sped through and hopefully my she was among them!!
After Tubbercurry there was a lull in the racing as all the riders took advantage and fuelled up on energy bars and gels.
It wasn't until reaching Colooney that the pace once again spiked, speeds in excess of 60km/h were very common as we raced hard down the dual carriage way which bypasses Sligo.
Once we made it to the far side of Sligo the pace did not ease as the bunch was driven on by the pro teams at the front.
The speeds were once again in orbit as we twisted and turned our way out the Bundoran road.
I felt good until 10 km to go when we were exposed to the full force of the coast and its strong winds.
The bunch exploded into many pieces and I found myself in the second group on the road.
We chased hard for the final few kilometers keeping the leaders in sight as I led my group across the line.
I was happy with my performance as my legs did not feel good but I really dug deep on occasions to ensure I stayed in contention.
Tommorow we head into the mountains of Donegal so hopefully my climbing legs will be up for the challenge.
Rás 2012: Stage 5
Bundoran - Buncrana
Yesterday was the key stage for those with designs on winning the Rás this year.
The Pinch (climb) and the Manmore Gap would be the making or breaking of the Rás peloton and everyone knew this since the route was announced last year.
The depart from Bundoran was tense and rapid as every rider fought hard for the front, well aware of the carnage that the cross winds caused the day before.
I kept out of the wind, conserving energy and staying close to the front at all points.
The first climb was 10km in length. It was a large drag on the main road and as we hit it the strong tail wind drove us up the accent at speeds of 60km/h at points. This is an insane speed for a climb!
Upon clearing the summit we forged on towards Letterkenny where the decent into the the town brought on speeds of 90km/h.
After Letterkenny we met the first in what would be a continuous series of climbs towards Buncrana.
I felt comfortable on the initial climbs as we came in through Buncrana and started to hit the steep ones.
The Pinch was the first big obstacle and I dug deep to clear it in the lead group.
Many had tailed off the back by now.
Next we hit the Manmore Gap. Its steepness was at 27% at times and riders were close to falling off the bike they were going so slow.
It seemed endless but I fought the intense gradient right to the top were the countless supporters encouraged us on.
The decent of the Mamore gap was explained to me as a decent into your coffin if you get it wrong as we were nearing 100kph!!
Luckily I didn't crash and as we plummeted off the mountain I made my way into the second group as the lead bunch had split on The climb.
Joined by hardly any county riders we charged towards Buncrana and into the finishing straight were I sprinted hard towards the line, coming in the top 30 hopefully.
Im happy with the performance as the tough climbs were serious obstacles but ones I overcame.
Ras 2012: stage 5
Buncrana - Killybegs
Today was the second day of the Ras in the mountains. A hard cat2 followed by the steep
accent of Glengesh would surly split the field to pieces and if by some miracle it was still
together then the flow of cat2 and cat3 climbs towards the finish would sort it out. Leaving
Buncrana the pace was very fast we stampeded out the road towards Letterkenny at rapid pace.
I kept central in the bunch avoiding the usage of any unnecessary energy saving all until we
hit the climbs which began at 75km. Speeds in excess of 65km/h were common as we passed
through Letterkenny and out towards the first climb of the day. On the cat2 i rode hard shoulder
to shoulder with the pro's at the front knowing that if i slipped back that i may be left behind
on the climb. I rode the hill at a solid tempo and cleared the summit with the front bunch but it
didn't stop there the rapid pace continued the whole way to Glengesh. 4km before the climb
I seen an opportunity to attack at took advantage of it blasting free from the peloton with 5
others unfortunately our freedom was short lived as we were caught near the foot of Glengesh.
The climb itself was another steep accent but i dug deep hauling myself round the harsh hair
pin bends and clear over the summit. Due to the intense pace set by the pros i was left in the
2nd half of the group as it split. But on through open roads after the climb I attacked clear and
caught 2 pro's up ahead, they were riding a strong Tempo and with my aid we made ground on
our pursuers whilst minimizing our losses to the front. It was a successful maneuver as when i
crossed the line I had mover up to 3rd county rider overall and 35th on GC.
Ras 2012: stage 7
Donegal - Cootehill, 161km
This will be a short diary as I am very tired after the 160km haul that I had to conquer today.
The field left Donegal at high speed and powered down the main road toward Bundoran which was our second visit to the town in the Rás this year.
From here we travelled south-east, pushing hard along the narrow rolling roads.
I was on edge as six riders had ridden clear, one of which was only a minute behind me on the county rider classification.
As the kilometres ticked by, I dug hard to keep at the front as we edged in and out of cross winds and up and down challenging hills.
I had to work hard on ensuring that I kept the food going into me with an endless stream of bars, gels and energy products sponsored by Molloys Lifestyle Pharmacy ensured I was always topped up.
The category two climb of the day at 100km was steady as the Swiss pro team set a comfortable tempo controlling the leeway that the break had out front.
It was not until one of the GC contenders David Mc Cann attacked that things kicked into gear.
Knowing the yellow jersey was in jeopardy, the Swiss pursued hard closing on both him and the break until both had been caught.
But the pace did not relax and as we came within the final 5km disaster struck as my team mate Chris Coyle came a cropper when he crashed.
I luckily avoided disaster and pressed on, coming in safely in the middle bunch.
Tommorow is the final stage and with it comes the black hills of Skerries.
I'm confident I can do well!
Ras 2012: Stage 8
Coothill - Skerries
The final stage of the an post Ras was far from easy. This is no skip around the champs
elysees, this is a 140km trek across rolling harsh Irish country side before entering the Skerries
circuits and completing 2laps which include the challenging accent of the black hills. From the
drop of the flag the pace was on as the swiss and Czech teams forced a tough tempo upfront
which was sure to discourage any attacks. We had 6 cat 3 climbs to conquer as the day passed
by and as we reached and ascended each my legs still felt strong right up to the entry onto the
circuits. The main field had already taken many casualties as riders were shed on route leaving
a select group to battle it out. Since i was still in the front i dug deep as we climbed the black
hills for the first time, i stayed close to the front ensuring that i stayed out of harms way as the
group splintered on the climb leaving many riders behind. Again we passed through Skerries
and back out towards the hills, i knew i had to be in the front starting them or else the sling
shot affect could leave me behind. I fought hard to maintain a good position and as we cleared
the summit i was in the front with about 30 other riders. This had left me in a good position to
achieve a result until 5km to go when we were swamped by a large chasing pack which in turn
caused carnage forcing me back out of harms way. I finished comfortably in the front bunch
ensuring i maintained my 3rd place overall in the county rider classification and 33rd overall
in the general classification. It has Been a relatively successful Ras for me, i would have liked
some higher stage placings and would have liked to have achieved a higher GC result but at the
end of the day it was still a good performance.
My first race back was Heusdan, which
was a pro Kermesse north of Gent, it was a fast flat twisty course
which had a rough section of paving capable of firing both you and
your bike a foot in the air at any given time, the only incline's on
the lap were two motorway bridges, one which you passed on your way
out of the town and one on your return. From the beginning I rode OK,
I worked hard to keep central in the bunch and out of the wind, these
proved to be working good as the laps ticked by, but at the 
