Meet the Team!

(1) Dr SeamusMcAleer:   Seamus is probably the most experienced cyclist on the Raid and is a Consultant Oncologist and the Clinical Director at the Cancer Centre. Seamus has been cycling for over 30 years, having started cycling as a medical student aged 18 because he couldn’t afford the bus fare from Trinity college Dublin to his home city of Beragh near Omagh . He also cycled to the South of France as a student instead of interrailing and survived on a diet of baguettes and sardines. By the way he cycled back as well.

Seamus has raised over £100000 for cancer by cycling the length and breadth of Ireland, the US and Spain. Seamus will be using the same bike Lance Armstrong rode to victory in the 2001Tour De France and has refused to buy a new bike, even though Lance has changed his. Nor has he been put off by a recent bearing failure. What time Seamus loses on the climbs he usually makes up on the descent. Possibly the best descender on tour but this is the most hotly contested category.

(2) Turlough Montague QC is a strong favourite for the yellow jersey and is a member of the Phoenix Cycling Club. Recent cycling form suggests that not only is he defying age but also gravity being one of the first over any steep climb be it a club run or  a local sportif.  One of the most stylish cyclists as well (only Paula has more Rapha gear) he will also be competing for the best dressed cyclist. Turlough has no weaknesses as he can climb and descend with the best. Turlough did the Camino cycle in 2006 and has a well known party song – which we hope he will recite en route...

(3) Dr Gerry Hanna also known as the 'singing cyclist' will be taking part without his wife Suzie who also did the Camino cycle this year who will be at home looking after the children. Gerry a Consultant Oncologist, has been training in Kerry recently and like Seamus is a great descender. Gerry did the Camino cycle and Mizen head to Malin Head and is an experienced cyclist. Gerry doesn’t have one party song he has 1000s. Gerry will be a rival for Seamus on the descents particularly with Seamus having lost some weight recently. Gerry makes the sound of a Porsche 911 when he descends at speeds in excess of 45 MPH and can be mistaken for car passing.

(4)Dr Paula Scullin , a Consultant Oncologist, didn’t even own a bike in April and will be taking on the challenge of the Raid Pyrenean having never done a classified climb. An ex-Camogie player, what Paula lacks in experience she makes up for in style and natural ability. Likely to be part of the ‘Seamus’ group on the road. She managed to clip in to the clip-less pedals at first attempt but then fell off on her next few attempts leading to a return to standard pedals for a couple of months. She has been trying hard to win the best dressed cyclist by buying lots of rapha gear in every colour.

(5)Geoff Hill is retired hospital manager at the Cancer Centre and golfer. Well, they say cycling is the new golf and Geoff has made the conversion but still plays golf the odd Saturday. He was an inexperienced cyclist who again didn’t own a bike until a few months ago. He has his own sense of cycling style and his favourite cycling jersey has the image of Wallace and Grommit with the words "Keep up Lad". He thinks this will intimidate other cyclists as he passes them on the climbs. He bears an uncanny resemblance to 'Il Pirata' Marco Pantani which is another way of saying he is also bald. Geoff also has very toned muscular legs which normally take years to develop and wouldn’t normally be associated with golf. Some have asked for drug tests to be carried out by the UCI before the trip.

(6)Dr Ciaran Rafferty is an Anaesthetist and an experienced cyclist. Just as the famous World Champion Sean Kelly once did, Ciaran will sprint for every prime, although he did gift Seamus a 30 in Omagh on their way from Mizen to Malin Head a number of years ago as this was Seamus’s home town. No-one will be given any gifts in the sprints on this trip. Ciaran doesn’t normally go for a cycle unless it’s going to be for 100 miles plus. He also did the very steep Fort Road 10 times in the one day as part of his training making him the King of Fort Road. Recently lost a sprint by the width of a spoke but hopes to avenge this one-time loss.

(7) Dr Alan Hounsell is a Medical Physicist at the cancer centre. He is the only true climber and has a background in cycle touring. Alan is the lightest male cyclist and is probably the one to watch on the longer climbs especially Le Tourmalet. Rides a specialized bike wears specialized clothing and helmet but has not received any sponsorship from specialized. This could change if he won the yellow jersey.

(8) Gillian Traub is the Manager of the Cancer Centre and is new to cycling having excelled in other  sports such as Hockey and Tennis. Just like Paula, she also had problems with clip-less pedals. She is probably the fittest in the Woman’s category and she has a very high cadence which should be an advantage on the steeper climbs. Also a competitor in the best dressed cyclist event.

(9) Dr Martin Eatock, a Consultant Oncologist, is an experienced cyclist who has cycled from London to Paris and is a founder member of Kilbride Cycling club who have ties to Wendy Houvenhagel. It took nearly 20 miles for Wendy the World Champion to drop Martin at a  sportif event a few years ago. Martin has ridden more sportifs than anyone this year including The Etape Hibernia and the Inishowen 100. He will only use his triple gear if absolutely necessary and it will be necessary on the highest category climbs. Strong on the descents and the sprints. Just like Seamus, is not a front runner for the best dressed cyclist.

(10) Dr David Stewart is a Consultant Oncologist and an experienced cyclist. He is a former World Medical Champion in Athletics and Ironman Triathlete but is concentrating on cycling now. Good climber but awful descender. Has done a stage of the Tour de France and many major cols in France and Italy. Has far too many bikes and doesn’t know which one to bring but has decided to leave the Colnago's behind and take his titanium bike instead. Enjoys Cordon Blue dining particularly Steak Tartare and Seafood Risotto and is an absolute Francophile when confronted with French Cuisine!

(11) Nurse Mairead Stewart is a marathon runner a convert to cycling and married to David. She has done the greatest number of Hors Category climbs than anyone else including an intense training week in the Italian Alps this year in preparation for this trip. She is a strong contender for the Woman’s pink jersey although she already has quite a few already. Good colour coordination so in with a chance of best dressed cyclist as well.

(12) Niall McKillop is a Cancer Survivor and is the youngest on the Raid and has rapidly improved his cycling in the last few months. Has been keenly coached by Ciaran and a great sprinter for the 30’s With such training behind him he may well be a dark horse for the yellow jersey.

(13) Mr Jonathan Bunn is a retired international rower, triathlete and cyclist and Orthopaedic Surgeon. Has been training quietly by himself for the Raid so form is unknown but he has been seen on the steep Fort road where he matched Alan Hounsell in climbing which is an amazing feat given Alan is half his size and the  gradient is steeper than any of the climbs we will do in France.

(14) Philip Nicolls is a comeback cyclist whose weight loss and improvement in fitness is testament to the benefits of cycling. He has done most of his cycling on a heavy mountain bike (Lap the Lough and the Ards Coastal Classic) but has a new lightweight roadbike for The Raid. Also, Philip is one of the top fundraisers on the trip so far.

(15) Dr Mark Gratton is a Medical Physicist who took up cycling as part of the cycle to work scheme. He uses a Boardman hybrid bike with disc brakes and large cassette. In fact is bike is as heavier that all of David Stewart’s bikes put together (and there are more than 6 of those...) He has done Lap the Lough and the Inishowen 100. Literally powers up every short hill leaving everyone in his wake.  H found Mamore Gap in Donegal a real handful and thought he was going to die at the top and required  so was assessed by St Johns ambulance but was okay, indeed it is entirely normal to feel this way on this climb. Mark may be the one to watch on the short cols and may gather points for the King of the Mountains jersey.

(16) Betty and Steve Stephens are another Husband and Wife team. Betty is a Secretary in the Cancer Centre and Steve is a chef. Both are experienced touring cyclists and both cycle to work. Both have been getting stronger every week and Steve is very strong on the climbs. Betty is probably the best Female descender usually passing a lot of the men on the descents. Rarely do this duo miss a training run will probably not cycle together as Steve is so strong on the hills.

(17) Larry Sheeran Last but my no means least is Larry Sheeran a well known member of the Phoenix Cycling Club. He is an experienced cyclist and has cycled The Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway in the U.S., Mizen Head to Malin Head and The Camino. He is also the oldest cyclist and has been a training partner of Seamus for years. Larry is retired, so could well be a full time cyclist if he wasn’t so busy. Larry is also a well known Musician and recently did a gig in the Downings, Co. Donegal to raise funds, but refuses to sing any Daniel O’Donnell numbers. He is a cautious descender so may find the long steep descents difficult.