(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.
