With only days to go to Christmas, the winter warriors are already dishing it out, as expected. Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose - the more things change, the more they stay the same. One thing that is for certain, is that the seasoned racing cyclist, be it A, B through to Veteran - this is base time. It's time to let the wheel go, as there is a greater goal. For a selected few, that includes the An Post Ras 2012.
The An Post Sean Kelly team have already completed their first training camp in Calpe, Spain. With hopes of repeat invites to Tours of Oman and Qatar, the team has higher targets this coming year, and this is a must for a team which has developed so much over the years.
Once again, it’s based upon solid foundations. No better men that Sean Kelly and Kurt Bogaerts to steer that ship. This last week will have seen the riders meet as a collective for the first time ahead of the season. Briefings on race programme, expectations, management requirements, physiological testing, new clothing and equipment, travel arrangements and sponsor briefings will form only one part of the programme. Media interviews, coaching advice and the managements' vision as to where the team should be positioned at various junctures in 2012 will give the riders a focus to carry through the fortnight at home, ahead of the second training camp come mid January 2012.
Prepare our brethren for the Ras
Meanwhile, the domestic Ras pretender is planning the festive season in earnest, an opportunity to clock up back to back spins in good company or none. Barring a short trip abroad before the start of the season, this is likely the final opportunity to put such a number of days to good use - the season is 8 weeks away at this stage. In no time at all, provincial clubs will compete for the first race of the season, within weeks to be followed by the Tour of Munster and Ulster not forgetting Tour of the North and whatever other Tours and Classic races serve to prepare our brethren for the Ras. In reality, the domestic calendar has provided excellent courses at the stage races in the run up to the Ras, however, the one day races are lacking in distance and depth of field, making consistency in build-up a real challenge for County riders.
Many have already and most certainly set their minds upon the Ras. For the 2011 virgin, 2012 might be about redemption. Expectations ahead of the 2011 edition may have dissolved 30kms into stage 1, if not late into stage 3, a hard mans' stage by all accounts. A couple of stage races under the belt provide a different perspective. The realisation that there is another race taking place every day, the 40 or so who manage to compete for GC. Rare pickings for the rest of the domestic riders, nothing that a local stage finish cannot provide, likely to see the local hero lead in the 3rd or 4th group on the road on a tough day of the Ras. For a local or county rider to finish in the lead group on a stage is the real reward for the enthused public, and a moment which such a rider should relish and never forget.
In the next few weeks, the An Post Ras route will be delivered for our consumption. 2012 is Olympic year which will likely see competition level and the bar in the An Post Ras raised. It will make for great racing, and with that comes the challenge for domestic based riders. Racing the Ras is one thing, riding it to simply "get around" is another thing altogether. The former is welcome, the latter less so.
The mind of the winter warrior will never change, for this is his moment.
Leave him to it, I say.
Cian Lynch