Hetman Tandem Cup full race recap!

Hello again!
Now that I've arrived home after over two weeks away here is the update from our second international race in as many weeks. After the Italian World Cup we flew to Poland to race the UCI C1 event, The HTC (Hetman Tandem Cup). This is a 4 day stage race based in the Polish city of Lublin which is approximately 200km south east of Warsaw. In a late pairing change I remained as Ciarán's pilot (I was initially to switch back to my usual stoker) but it was decided that due to bike set up etc. it would be better if we kept up our partnership for this race.

Lublin was a fantastic change after staying in Montesilvano for a week. The city is small but vibrant, with plenty of excellent coffee shops, a bustling centre and in general full of good vibes. It's certainly a place I'd love to go back to as a tourist for a proper city break. On top of that the hotel was fantastic, the food was fantastic, and the hospitality of both the organisation and the hotel staff (shout out to the Hilton Hampton!) was excellent.

We arrived the day before and were able to recon the technical TT course and the stage 3 circuit. These two stages would prove to be decisive in this race for us so we were glad to get a view of them before the racing began.

STAGE 1 AND 2:
Stage one was a 24km consisting of 7 laps of a reasonably technical circuit. Due to travel logistics we used the full road set up but this course didn't penalise it so much given it's more techical nature. The lap consisted of two 800m straights joined together by several tight but fast turns. This TT turned out to be pretty rapid and we finished in a time of 35'34'' and we won the stage by 30 seconds! This was a great start for us- we knew we could be in the mix for the overall win and winning the opening stage confirmed this to us. However 4 days is a long race and there was still plenty to navigate especially considering this stage was the easiest of the four.

Stage 2 was an 84km stage consisting of 14 laps of a 6km circuit. It was a hot day on exposed roads. The circuit had one short steep climb each lap (500m approx) which led to an exposed head crosswind section for a further 2.5 km. A right turn led us onto a tailwind descent with a series of 3 sharp bends at the bottom leading into the finish line. This stage would prove to be more tricky but it was also a stage where we could use our team mates. The result didn't matter so long as one of the two Irish bikes were in the hunt for the stage. The Polish national bike immediately attacked the climb on lap one forcing a selection of 4 bikes which ultimately was a 2v2 situation. 2 Irish bikes vs 2 Polish bikes. This was an ideal situation for both of us as it simplified the race situation so long as we rode together to keep the others at bay. There were also 2 time bonus primes during the stage. One at lap 4 and the other at lap 8, with 6,4,2 seconds going to the first three over the line. These were going to be fiercly contested especially with the GC lead beng pretty close. Ciaran and I managed to win both of those to increase our lead in the standings. This was effectively phase one of the race over for us. Phase two was now in play and that was to play our cards and hopefully one of the Irish bikes could win the stage. On lap 10 we attacked hard with only one Polish bike able to follow. However when we hit the crossheadwind at the top of the climb our speed dropped, and with the an unco-operating bike with us we knocked off the attack. This allowed the other two bike back in but immediately Conor and Ben attacked forcing a move with the second Polish bike. this suited Ciarán and I down to the ground. Our closest rivals for GC were with us, while the second Polish bike were 90 seconds behind us. We could afford to leave them gain 30 seconds before we would even think of keeping the time in check and this would also give Ben and Conor a great chance to take a stage. In the final 2 laps we did ride to keep the gap manageable but not to bring back Conor and Ben. They would hold the gap with their breakaway ciompanions all the way to line and just miss out on the stage win by a mere tyre width! We managed to win the sprint for 3rd and increased our lead into stage 3 to 40 seconds.

Stage 3 and 4
Stage 3 was a similar type of circuit to stage 2 with the climb being slightly longer. However this time there was a tailwind which would certainly change things. The speed would be higher and twe were hoping the chance pf making a solo move stick would be higher. The only spanner in the works was the rain. It was absolutely pissing down. 12 laps totalling 75km awaited us on what was (as we say in Ireland), a grand soft day. Once again time bonuses were in play on laps 4 and 8 which could well prove important for the overall GC. Our aim for this stage was slightly different though and it was now Conor and Ben willing to help us out to defend GC. Once again the same four bikes broke away after the first climb and this made the situation clearer and easier to handle. After securing the bonus sprints as we had done in Stage 2, phase one was once again complete. However Ciaran and I were on a different day today. Everything we did seemed easy. It was like the bike didn't have a chain- no effort seemed to hard and even though we had been riding at the front we ere in cruise control. On lap 9 we hit the climb HARD. Immediately we had a gap. Pedalstroke after pedal stroke our advantage increased. With 2 laps to go we had 20 seconds. We were oblivious to the rain and wind and fully focussed on bringing it home. With a lap to go we now had 40 seconds. Crossing the line to take the stage our gap had gone out to 1'10'' and we were now in a really strong position to win the overall. It was a brilliant feeling crossing the line, joy and relief flooded us. WE knew stage 2 had been a sticky day for us but having a bit more of a cushion going into the final stage allowed us a little relief.

Stage 4. It's not over until it's over. People were congratulating us already but if one thing that bike racing has taught me is that it's not over until it's over. People were asking how were we going to get our trophies home, to which I responded, "We've not won anything just yet." Stage 4 was a crit- 30 laps in central Lublin on damp to drying roads. A slippy crit on a tandem is not exactly how I would've likde to finish off a race like this and did nothing to help the pre race nerves. However once the race started we were flying. Our closest rivals were piloted by a fellow Cyclocross rider so we expected it to be full gas from the gun. We were not disappointed and it was full gas from the when the starters whistle blew. After one lap it was just our two bikes. In order to be safe and secure the GC we went to the front and just kept pushng full gas all race with the Polish bike in our wheel. We weren't looking for turns, our sole aim was to stay safe and finish the job off and the "easiest" way to do this was just a full effort for just over an hour on the front. With 3 laps to go the the other bike told us they weren't going to sprint after sitting in the wheels all stage- they were going full to stay there and were just happy to cross the line with us. I thought this was a fantastic gesture. Again the stage win wasn't our aim for that race so it was real sign of respect from them. I never thought the city centre wet crit would have been my favourite stage of the race but I was proven wrong. It was class. To win the stage was the cherry on top!.

Epilogue:
I'm back at home just less than a week and the previous two weeks racing are yet to fully sink in. It was a great experience with pleanty of paralympic qualifying points scored. More than that though it wwas another great experience representing Ireland on the international stage in a really supportive team environment.

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