This morning was a great morning to be out with the Carrick Dole gang. The Dole gang gained their title during the recession when jobs were scarce in Carrick, but whilst the name remains, most members are now gainfully employed once again. Some now work shifts whilst others work Saturdays in order to have their…
Today as the riders headed for the Champs Elysees there was a relaxed air of school holidays about the peleton as they rambled along towards those eight laps when the real racing began. This year there was much for Irish cycling fans to be proud of. Dan Martin finishing ninth on GC is the highest placing…
Imagine for a second what happens when a person in an ordinary job gets sick for a few weeks. They take a week or two off work and upon their return, they mind themselves, drink plenty of Lucozade and go to bed early after vegging out in front of the TV for the evening. They…
Sam was looking good for a great finish today until an Astana jersey decided to play ping pong in the middle of the bunch. Really hope Sam is OK and has a speedy recovery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIMAmVCagPY Barry www.thecyclingblog.com
Sam Bennett has fought adversity with tenacity and determination to make his way to the highest echelon of professional cycling. A kind and softly spoken manner off the bike can lead his competitors into a false sense of complacency on the bike, when the ferocious determination of a rampaging lion kicks in. Here are…
http://youtu.be/6vcZZ6rMIfs Sunday mornings with the Carrick group usually mean the spin around Ballymac. The group often swells to over 50 riders at times before reducing back down again as those looking for a shorter route turn for home. Some venture further on clocking up over 160k each Sunday morning but the average tends to be 100k…
Today Sam Bennett took another massive win that furthers his journey to the very top of professional cycling. In the Rund um Koln he managed to unleash a massive sprint that saw him catapult himself past Markus Barry, the Belkin sprinter and last years Milan San Remo winner Gerald Ciolek. Sam was also joined in…
Have you ever found yourself in a situation and thought to yourself 'This is a bit surreal' ? I found myself in one of those situations recently when I was sitting with Sean Kelly and who came along but Sam Bennett. We chatted away and then Sean asked Sam what his programme of races was…
Tomorrow morning when young Sam Bennett from Carrick on Suir wakes up and peels back the curtains it will not be the river Suir that he looks out upon. He will not be leaving the house at ten to nine alongside his Dad to line up at the old ESB office between O'Mahoney…
Today in the shop Ray, John and I huddled around the small screen of an iPhone hoping that no customer would walk into the shop for the next five minutes. Commercially this is not a good attitude to have, we depend upon our great customers to make a living but normal everyday life was now…
January first is always associated with fresh starts and new beginnings. For some that can mean resolutions broken by mid-day whilst for others it can mean an entire life changing event. This morning in Carrick on Suir, in a town square named after one of the greatest cyclists of all time a cycling club gathered…
Sam Bennett was born with a talent. His family and clubs, teams and coaches helped him develop that talent and this week it all came together. Every cycling fan in Ireland felt the hairs on the back of their necks tingle as their heart rates increased to match the readings on Sams' Garmin as he…
