Feature Articles
Remembering Claude Criquielion’s 1984 Worlds win
The great Belgian cyclist, Claude Criquielion sadly died yesterday, after suffering a stroke at the age of 58. Criq was one of those old-school cyclists who could handle any type of race, from cobbled classics to Grand Tours. He built up a fairly impressive palmares during his career, with victories such as Flèche Wallonne in 1985 and 1989, the Tour...
Looking back at the clash between Sean Kelly and Juan Fernandez at the ’87 Tour of Catalonia
By Graham Healy During his career, Sean Kelly established a reputation as somebody not to be messed with during a sprint, and a brilliantly timed photograph from the 1987 Tour of Catalonia demonstrates how he was well able to handle himself at the finish. Kelly had started the race that year hoping for a hat trick of wins having taken overall...
Looking back to 1950 at the first African team in the Tour de France
By Graham Healy It was widely reported yesterday that MTN-Qhubeka were set to become the first African team to take part in the Tour de France. The South African team were selected as one of the wildcards for this year's race. However, the first African team in the Tour took to the start line of the 1950 race. That year, a...
Product Review, Lezyne Steel Floor Drive
It is a very beautiful pump. It is hard for a non cyclist to understand the reinforcing use of the adverb ‘very’ when describing anything other than women or sunsets as beautiful. Lezyne are a relatively new company, whose high-end products have been seeping into the shelves and the screens of the cycle trade. They have the classical image...
Unknown to the Irish scene, Maria Larkin hoping for podium result in the 2015 Irish CX Champs
By Caroline Martínez Ireland’s top elite men, elite women, masters, U23 men, and juniors will gather in Swords, North Dublin, next weekend to compete for their respective Irish Cyclocross titles. While the favourites are expected to dominate the events, there are lesser known riders in each group equally capable of climbing the podium steps. Mayo native Maria Larkin is one of...
A look back at Stephen Roche’s Irish Cyclo Cross Championships victory
By Graham Healy At the start of December 1979, Stephen Roche of Orwell Wheelers would win his last race in Ireland prior to his move to France in his bid to become a professional cyclist. The race was the Irish Cyclo Cross Championships in Balbriggan, North Dublin. The riders faced ten laps of what was described as a difficult circuit, and...
“I didn’t think he was the kind of guy who should be World Champion” Greg LeMond and the ’82 Worlds (including highlights)
See highlights video at the bottom of the page By Graham Healy Down through the years, the World Championship Road Race has often ended in controversy. One such occasion was the 1982 race in Goodwood, England. Amongst those considered favourites to win were Bernard Hinault, Giuseppe Saronni and Sean Kelly. Nobody really fancied the chances of the previous year’s winner, Freddy Maertens....
“It’s hard to go from the highs of pro cycling, to normal person on the street” John Brady
By A.P. O’Máille Dubliner John Brady turned professional in 1988 and procured a contract racing on the famous 7-Eleven team, a US based professional team that had a roster including Davis Phinney, Andy Hampsten, Sean Yates, Bob Roll and many other big name racers. This is the second part of our interview with John, and you can check out...
“Sprinting is a chess game” John Brady, the Dubliner who raced with 7-Eleven
By A.P. O’Máille Dubliner John Brady turned professional in 1988 and procured a contract racing on the famous 7-Eleven team, a US based professional team that had a roster including Davis Phinney, Andy Hampsten, Sean Yates, Bob Roll and many other big name racers. In 1989 he beat Greg LeMond. Here’s an article from the Los Angeles Times from...
Stephen Roche vs Roberto Visentini
TheScore.ie have listed their top 50 sports articles of the year, and No.2 on the list was an article written by one of the team at Thebikecomesfirst. Graham Healy looked at what became of Roberto Visentini, Stephen Roche's team mate and rival at the 1987 Giro d'Italia. Below is the article. Stephen Roche’s 1987 Giro nemesis, Roberto Visentini still not...
Twenty years ago this week saw the best ever line-up at an Irish bike race
On the 18th of December 1994, an Irish bike race was made up of a field with a combined palmares of amongst other things: 8 x Tour de France, 7 x Giro d'Italia, 2 x Vuelta a Espana, 5 x World Championships, 9 x Paris-Roubaix, 8 x Liege-Bastogne-Liege, 14 x Milan-San Remo, 11 x Paris-Nice and 1 x Rás...
100 years ago, the first Australians took part in Paris-Roubaix – This is their story
By Graham Healy One hundred years ago, a group of six intrepid Australians travelled to Europe to race as professional cyclists. Unfortunately, they missed out on their chance to make it, due to war breaking out a few months after their arrival. However, they did have a chance to take part in some of the biggest races, and this is their...
Half Bike Shop – Half Pub
This bike shop in Portland, Oregon looks pretty cool. Velo Cult is equal parts bike shop, venue, and bar. They have a few live music acts every week in addition to showing films. In their bar, they serve 12 different types of beer, and that's not all. They also have a museum of classic bikes, including vintage bikes from Cinelli,...
“I had to tell myself that I hadn’t won gold yet” Orla Hendron _ Ireland’s latest World Champion
Two months ago, Orla Hendron of Orwell Wheelers claimed her second rainbow jersey when she won the 2-kilometre pursuit at the World Track Masters Championships in Manchester in the 50-54 age category. It followed on from her points race win in the 2010 World Championships in the 45-49 age category. In the final of the pursuit, she finished in...
“Mad 6-day race claims two victims” Harry Reynolds and the New York Six-Day
By Graham Healy At the start of the twentieth century six-day races were incredibly popular in the US and attracted many of the big names from cycling, both from North America and Europe. Amongst those who would take part in the New York Six-Day was Ireland's first World Champion, Harry Reynolds. The Dubliner was invited to take part in the 1907...
Alan McCormack and the Coors Classic – Part II
The Coors Classic was by far the biggest race in the US for years, and it attracted many of the big names from the sport. In 1986, it was won by Bernard Hinault, whilst Greg LeMond won it twice. Phil Anderson, Steve Bauer and Luis Herrera also competed in the race, and Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx attended the...