Roscommon cyclist makes solid start to Rás Tailteann

County Roscommon cyclist, Daire Feeley, has made a solid start to this year's Rás Tailteann.

The 2022 winner finished 21st on the first stage between Tullamore and Kilmallock on Wednesday.

Today's stage is 187.3 kilometres between Kanturk and Sneem.  

The Roscommon cyslist has enjoyed a stellar year to date with six stage victories, including one at Rás Mumhan. However, preparations for this week’s Rás have been hampered following a battle with a chest infection.

“Two weeks ago, I had a really bad chest infection. I am only starting to find my feet now. It wasn’t ideal when you are going into a race that you are trying to win. I need to play a smart game and use my energy wisely.

“It goes through your head. When you are going through it, you’re asking yourself if it is worth the hassle? I know the answer to that though. I worried that being in contention to win it was gone out the window, but I am pretty confident going into it.

“Winning it before means I know what it takes from a tactical point of view while physically, I do think I have it. I am going to compete. It has been a challenging couple of weeks, but we got through it in the end. There are always going to be peaks and valleys when it comes to this game,” he explained.

The 27-year-old admits that winning the Rás two years ago was “the best and worst thing” for himself.

He acknowledges that capturing the highest prize on the Irish scene fulfilled a dream but also left him wanting and needing to experience that high of topping the leaderboard again.

“It can be hard when you win any other race because although it is a great feeling, you don’t quite get that same high as you do from the Rás. There is also a hole there that needs to be filled, and the only way to fill that is to win the Rás again.

“You could always chase that high, but you might never win it again. But if you win it twice, then you enter a totally different ball game, so motivation has not been an issue since winning it two years ago,” he noted.

Last year ended in disappointment for Feeley as the defence of his Rás title ended prematurely after crashing out of the race. This time, the All human-VeloRevolution cyclist is eager to avoid a similar fate in what he states will be a Rás that will go down to the wire.

“I would love to go back and win the race after crashing (last year). It was difficult. That crash cost me the rest of my season as I was off for a period of time due to concussion.

“It was challenging but regardless of how the race goes from a results point of view, it is very important you get the race in the legs because there is an effect for completing the race that you cannot replicate in training.

“If you get it in the legs it stands to you for the rest of the season. I do have unfinished business and I am going to go with the goal of winning the race and seeing what happens. We will focus on the task at hand,” he concluded.