2015 Galway Bay Criterium U14 Race Report

By Keith Mulroy:

It was a lovely sunny Saturday evening and a there was a great festival atmosphere in the park, the smell from the BBQ and blackrose pumping out the music and loads of kids around having fun on bikes and playing football ,the man himself Sean Kelly was there also to give advice and keep us on edge.

It was a busy week on the bike leading up to this race with a race in Kilkenny last week end and a covey club league race on Wednesday eve and another race in the morning in Navan this would be a nice way to start the weekend.

The U12’s were off first,we all lined up for the start, my plan for this one was to drill it from the gun and hammer it in and out of each corner, the race started and it was full on from the off, it was great hearing the lady on mc calling my name for leading on each lap as we came around to the start/finish, with 2laps to go I was just thinking of backing off the gas to save the legs for the race in Navan in the morning when I heard dad shouting someone is closing the gap.

My Harte rate went up to 200bpm’s until I realized that I had just lapped that rider so he was a lap behind but to someone looking on it looked like he was closing the gap, I knew I could back off the gas again, it was great crossing the finish line first again this year as I won the U12 race here last year, the Bottecchia SP9 with Gipiemme wheels was a dream and handled so sharp around the course and with the Di2 set up every gearshift was precise and smooth.

This is my first win of the year and starting to show the training is working to plan, I’d like to thank my club Westport CC, my dad (Noel)  for the coaching and all the time he has put in bringing me out training in the evenings and every weekend driving me around the country to races,  I’d also like to thank Stephen Mullane @ Chaindrivencycles.com, it’s great to have the support of Chaindriven cycles, nothing is ever a problem to them when I need anything it’s only a phone call away and it’s at the door within 24hrs,thanks to them the Bottecchia SP9 is always running sharp, well done an thanks to Galway bay C and Mick Ruane and all the Marshall’s and all who helped out with sign on and food, it all made for a great safe evening of racing, I look forward to 2016 to try and make it 3 in a row 🙂

Thanks Keith,