18 – 19 JULY 2015 

 

PARACYCLING BIZKAIKO BIRA XVIII. 

 

Event held on 18^{th and} 19^th July over three stages including a Hill Climb, Time Trial &   Road Race.  Managed by development team coach Cathal Miller and mechanic Gerry Beggs.  Thirteen bikes in the squad making it the largest team ever to depart for an International event. Also supported were Peter Ryan and Mark Rohan

 INVACARE IRELAND ACADEMY SQUAD

 

Martin Gordon                                MB                  Independent

Paddy Clarke                                  Pilot                    Fitscience 

 

Damien Vereker                             MB                    Comeragh CC  

Marcin   Mizgajski                        Pilot                 Rossbury Racing

 

Martin Enright                                  C2                    Midleton CTC                  

 

Aidan Mullane                                  C2                   Bottecchia RC

 

Chris Burns                                        C3                   Banbridge CC

 

Andrew Nicholson                           C4                   Phoenix CC

 

Jerry Towey                                       C4                   Western Lakes

 

Tojo Lazzari                                        C5                   Castlebar CC

 

Ciara Staunton                                      WH2              Murphy Surveys

 

Declan Slevin                                         MH3               Rosemount CC

 

Seamus Wall                                          MH4               Barrow Wheelers

 

Fiona Mc Cormack                               WH5                Independent

 

 Liam Cullinane                                       T2                   Galway  CC

 

The squad travelled in 2 groups flying to Bilbao on the 15^th and 16^th and returning on the 20^th as a complete squad. This was primarily a self-funded trip for the riders with the exception of the coach and mechanic (flights) and the rental of a van, which was funded through the Para cycling budget.

Friday 17^th: The squad were brought to the town of Mungia that hosted both the TT and the Road Race for the hand bikes and trikes and the TT for the solo and tandem bicycles. After a 2-hour acclimatisation of the respective courses the riders were brought back the hostel for dinner and a team meeting and briefing for the following days racing.

Saturday 18^th:  (9AM) A 4km hill in Bilbao was the first race for the solo and tandem bikes. Racing against the Spanish elite squad and numerous Dutch and French riders the squad acquitted themselves very well in every category placing a rider in the top 5 on general GC after the first event.

Saturday 18^th:  (12:45PM) TT for the hand bikes and trikes in the town of Mungia began with Declan Slevin in the H3 category placing 5^th and Fiona McCormack winning the WH5 category despite a bad crash and a puncture on the last lap. Unfortunately team Ireland had 4 crashes on a very technical course that forced 3 riders to retire due to technical difficulties and injury.

 Saturday 18^th:  (18:45PM) Road Race for solo and tandem bicycles 56km and 72km respectively in the town of Elorrio. The tandems started first and raced what turned out to be a fantastic event on a rolling course with an 8% finishing hill. All three tandems were excellent with Damien Verecker being away on his own for 6 laps only to be caught with 700 metres to go by the world champions to be denied 3^rd place. The other tandems rode exceptionally well with Peter Ryan chasing back on after a mechanical. The solo bikes started as a single group and racing was frenetic from the gun, again all riders rode very well and marked their respective rivals trying to get the elusive podium spot. Chris Burns was unlucky to puncture and lose what was a 3^rd place finish; Andrew and Jerry rode well with Andrew suffering with back spasm towards the end and Jerry missing out on a podium at the gallop for the finish. Martin and Aidan were excellent and held their own against far more established and experienced riders. Tojo was very strong and did a huge amount of work to try and get Chris back into the break.

Sunday 19^th:  (9.30AM) Road Race Hand bikes and trikes 40km, 30km, 20km. Due to the damage to Liam’s trike he was unable to race. Ciara’s hand bike was repaired to the extent that she had two gears and despite stitches and various contusions she gamely raced and finished in what was a fantastic effort. Again Fiona despite various cuts and bruises also raced and in doing so claimed the overall WH5 title. Seamus patched up competed in the H4 race and was in contention and improved on his time of last year by a whopping 16 minutes. Declan Slevin rode a fantastic race and lost out on a podium by 20 seconds having to deal with Spanish team tactics etc.

Sunday 19^th:  (12.45PM) tandems and solo bicycles 30km and 20km TT in 35 degrees of heat. Tandems started first and again Damien Verecker and Marcin were on form with a fantastic 4^th place on a standard tandem with no TT apparel with the remaining two tandems within 20 seconds (Peter Ryan and Dermot had mechanical issues and to my mind were the form tandem for the TT). The solo bike acquitted themselves very well and despite in most cases riding standard bicycles were able to hold position.

Results overall: C5  7^th position,  C4  4^th position, C3  4^th position,  C2  4th position, MH3  5^th,  WH5  1^st, WH2  1^st stage 2,  MH4  5^th   stage 2 and  MT2  dnf.

Overall this was a very successful weekend racing with a very good accumulation of points for Rio. More  info on this event can be found on www.facebook.com/fundacionsaiatu     

 

Cathal Miller

Development Coach