Mark Flood Memorial Sportive

The Mark Flood Memorial Sportive

Today was a special day.

For a bit of background, this weekend four years ago we lost a great friend to the Cycling Community (and the community in general) here in New Ross. Mark was an avid cyclist, successful local business man, and a great friend to many. He celebrated his club, his clubmates and his friends both on and off the bike. When I moved to New Ross 13 years ago Mark was one of the first people in the cycling community that I met. From day one he made me feel welcome and as a young man finding his feet away from my native Cork this was always appreciated. Over the eyars we became friends and he was always one to have a good chat to over a coffee. Like many friendships I never appreciated the strength of it, and how good a person he was to me and many others until it tragically ended. To celebrate Mark, The Barrow Wheelers run a 100km Sportive (Grand Fondo style event) every April and it is the one event that is fixed in my calendar every year.

The day dawned cool and bright, which was as close to perfect as we get in Ireland this time of year. The unique aspect of this event is that the first 30 kilometers are neutralised. The whole group (roughly 140 riders) stay behind the car and cruise along. This allows many of us to chat and reconnect with people that we haven't met in weeks/months and sometimes even years. No stress, all chill, and just out for the love of riding bikes.

It's after this that the real fun starts (which Mark would have loved). The Sportive becomes a race (which it definitely is not- but we're bike riders let out of our cages). The wearing down process begins and the attacks fly all the way from Mullinavat to Ballyhale. With the group slightly thinner, everyone seems to take a breath before the first real test. The right turn from Stoneyford across to Bennetts bridge is like the first passage of the Kwaremont in Flanders. The group will once again be thinned but it's not where the knockout blow will land. I love this part of the ride knowing that leading up here and getting to pick my own lines on the narrow windy road that follows the steep climb will stretch the group into one long line. Some may drop off but for the most part the elastic band won't snap completely.

Into Bennettsbridge and the group expands once again. Another deep breath is taken and many in the group are hoping for some sort of truce. The pace does settle but two pesky attackers slip away. No one seems too worried (myself included). The road from here to Thomastown is long, lumpy and fast. The escapees will no doubt be recaptured by the claws of the bunch. Entering Thomastown the two riders are nowhere in sight. Still nothing to panic about. The road to Inistioge is equally lumpy but the climb out of Inisitoge is surely where these brave riders will regret their folly.

Just as I was getting worried, a glance up the road showed that Robin Kelly (previously a top Category 1 rider here in Ireland) has been dropped by his companion and is making his way back to us. As we enter the foot of South Kilkenny's answer to the Poggio (4km 2.3%) there is still no sign of the sole leader but surely it's only a matter time? Hitting the front hard I led into the climb hard. James Griffin (Waterford Racing Club) assisted and we started the chase in earnest. Over the top 4 of us remained and fully committed to the chase. Panic begans to set in as there was no sign of our sole leader. He is flying and it looks as if our pockets have been well and truly picked (but remember it's definitely not a race......). With 6km to go we got our first sight of the leader and he was holding a solid 30 second gap on us. With 3km to go the lead has reduced by half as we hit the sting in the tail. We cross back over the River Nore (and back into Wexford), and the next 2.5 k are all up hill. The gap continued to close but only very slowly. Our group of 4 has now become 2 with James and I leaving everything on the road.

With 400m to go the gap barely a handful of bike lengths but not quite closed. This has become a 3 man drag race. James attacked to close the gap and I just managed to hold his wheel. The gap has closed and our sole leader for the last 40km (Who I now know is Adrian from Waterford Wheelers- animal) has been reeled in after one of the hardest chases I can remember committing to (reminder to myself- it was definitely not a race).With one last push I carried speed around James and Adrian and was the first rider back to collect my favourite medal of the year. It's not a winners medal, but a participation medal for the what I think is the best bike ride of the year and each one of them that I have hangs proudly in my garage.

Thank you to The Barrow Wheelers Cycling Club for putting on a fantastic event and celebrating Mark in such a special way. He would have loved it and you should be proud.

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