Lakeside Wheelers duo competing in Rás Tailteann next week
Ireland’s premier stage race, Rás Tailteann 2024 is just a matter of days away and this year, Lakeside Wheelers will have two members racing with a team which has its roots in the locally organised Midland League (MiL) race series.
Stuart Cox and Padraig Moran are attached to the five-man, Midlands Race Team, and they will take to the start line of this historic race on Wednesday, May 22 with hopes of finishing the 785km event, five days later in Meath.
Last Sunday the lads fine tuned their warm up for the race by competing in the Shay Elliott, an iconic one-day race held each year in memory of Ireland’s first ever cyclist to do the Tour de France and indeed the first Irishman ever to wear the coveted Maillot Jaune.
The opening stage of Rás Tailteann 2024 will depart from Tullamore and finish after 148km in Kilmallock, Limerick. The following four days will see the Rás travel from Kanturk to Sneem (187km), Kenmare to Cahir (155km), Horse and Jockey to Kildare Town (139km) and finally on Sunday, May 26, Maynooth to Bective in Meath (156km).
This year’s edition, which is the sixty ninth running of the event, will be a very hilly and demanding race, so this week’s notes are a Q and A session with Stuart (SC) who has a significant history with the race commonly known in Irish cycling circles as, “The Rás”.
LSW: When and how did the MiL race team form?
SC: The MIL Race Team was formed in the 2023 season. It was formed when a group of us came together with the idea to enter a locally based team in the Rás.
LSW: How is the Midlands Rás team selected?
SC: The selection process is simple really, we put it out to all eligible riders and see who puts their names forward. You must be an A1, A2 or nowadays, minimum A3 category to race the Rás.
LSW: Who are the support crew members?
SC: The support crew are all volunteers within the Midland League community. Jim Maguire is our manager and he will be assisted by Donagh McArdle, Alan Smith, Damian Ward and Tom Farrell
LSW: How significant is it to have a team from the Mil in Ireland's biggest stage race?
SC: It is a huge achievement to have a MIL team in Ireland's biggest stage race competing against both domestic and international teams.
LSW: What does the Rás mean to you?
SC: The Rás to me is about survival and getting through each stage as it comes. It is a great achievement to be a 'Man of the Rás'. Also the camaraderie with my fellow teammates is what gets you through the week.
LSW: How many Rásanna have you competed in?
SC: I have competed in seven Rásanna now.. Six of those were when it was an eight day race.
LSW: What do you think are the big differences compared to when the Rás was an eight-day race with continental teams?
SC: The big difference is no one team can control the race. So it is constant attacking for the duration of the stage which is very typical of racing in Ireland.
LSW: What do you make of this year's route? Do you have a favourite stage, or maybe one you are dreading?
SC: This year’s route is more hilly then last year so it will create a good battle for General Classification. I am not looking forward to Stage 2.
LSW: It will be a new experience for fellow Lakeside Wheelers member, Padraig Moran. What advice would you give him as a Rás debutant?
SC: There is no doubt about Padraig’s strength and fitness. My advice to him would be to take one stage at a time. This race is not only physical but it is also very mentally draining. There will be good and bad days and it's teammates that get you through the low times. Positioning in the bunch is crucial as it can save you a lot of energy. Eating and drinking is vital too as you need to be fuelling for five stages.
LSW: What was your preparation (mileage, diet, recovery etc) like?
SC: My prep started back in October last year. The first months are all about getting in the long base miles. After Christmas I switched to working on top end (speed) so a lot of efforts during the week on the turbo and then long miles again at the weekend. Recovery is vital so as not to get burned out.
LSW: What are your hopes for this year's Rás?
SC: My hope is to get around the five stages safely and within a good group/bunch every day.
I will support my teammates during each stage to the best of my ability
LSW: And finally, who do you think will win Rás Tailteann 2024?
SC: Regarding the winner, I am not sure. I would like to see another Irish rider take the crown, it all depends on what international teams compete.
LSW: Thanks Stuart for giving your views and everybody at Lakeside Wheelers wishes you, Padraig and all the Midlands Race Team good luck for Rás 2024.
Best Wishes
On behalf of the Lakeside Wheelers committee and every member of the club, we extend the very best wishes to our fellow member, Stephen Corroon and his family.
Unfortunately Stephen had an accident on his bike recently so we wish him a good recovery and assure him that we are thinking of him every day.