CIARÁN POWER IS one of the most successful Rás riders of the modern era and as well as being a two-time winner and double Olympian, he spent several years in the professional ranks, travelling and racing around the world against the world’s best.
But like many top sportsmen when they retire, the transition to ‘real’ life can be tough and the Waterford man found it particularly so when he eventually hung up his wheels in 2008.
That decision was effectively made for him at the end of that season when his team didn’t renew his contract and at 32, found himself with little money to his name and less of a clue of where he’d go next.
With no college education or qualifications, Ireland’s highest ever placed finisher at the Olympics (2008) found himself working minimum wage on a factory floor in Waterford.
“I went from doing interviews on RTÉ at the Tour of Ireland, being this cool pro-cyclist to going straight into a minimum wage job on the Monday afterwards,” he said.
“That was quite hard. I didn’t know what the future held for me at that point.”
Alas, he trained as a neuromuscular physical therapist and has his own thriving practice in his home city.
Power represented Ireland at the 2008 Olympics. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
But that doesn’t mean the last few years have been any easier. In fact, they were anything but.
His mother passed away last year after a long battle with a terminal illness while his wife Lisa was diagnosed with cancer some years ago too. She’s since made a full recovery and has been the rock upon which Power has rebuilt himself.
“It was tough and when I finished cycling professionally; my head was just melted and I was actually completely burnt out mentally and physically.”
During that time he piled on the weight and from a point in his life where he was so diligent about his training and diet he’d weigh his food, he no longer cared.
“I went through a couple of really crappy years, my Mam passed away and my wife was sick, I was overweight and depressed.
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“I piled on the weight and if anyone said anything I’d just pile on more. It eventually got to a stage where I took a look at myself in the mirror and said ‘something must change, this cannot continue’.”
Having recently turned 40, Power set himself a target of doing the An Post Rás, the country’s most gruelling bike race.
He’s won it twice in the past (1998 and 2002) but he was a professional back then and that was his job.
As well as that, he was a mean mid-80 kilo piece of dynamite who could fly up hills and sprint with the best in the world.
Power wins a stage during the 2003 Rás. INPHO
INPHO
When he started training in October of last year he was a staggering 112 kilos and unable to keep pace with the Sunday spins.
But little by little, he’s changed things around. The drinking is gone, the eating is scaled back, the mileage has been upped incrementally and the appetite for battle is right on point.
“It got to a stage where I couldn’t go for a walk for more than a few minutes without being out of breath. I’ve sports-mad kids who are always in the garden playing football or basketball and I thought what a shame if I couldn’t even play with them.
“But I’m down to 92 kilos now and I feel great. I still have a stone or more to lose but for the amount of time and the weight I had I’m in a good place.
“I’m probably sprinting better now than I was when I was a pro. I’d actually be 100% confident that I’m sprinting better now!”
He’ll line up in the five-man Comeragh team for the An Post Rás today, a team he’s been affiliated with since he was 11 years old.
Three of the team will be making their debuts in the race and against full-time professionals, Power knows their chances are limited.
“The team is a bunch of guys in our late thirties early forties, three are doing it for the first time so whether you’re 19 or 39 it’s an exciting thing to do.
“For myself, it’ll be the first time I do it for Comeragh and that’ll be pretty cool.
“To be honest, I’m just looking forward to a week off work!
“Every time I’ve done it before I did it as a pro so I can’t wait to give that quote to one of the pros next week when he’s screaming at me to ride harder I’ll turn to him and say “I’ve to go to work Monday!” That’s one of my goals!”
Power with his son Hayden back in 2008. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
He’s been sick of late, so preparation hasn’t been ideal. But with such experience he knows he could do worse than to worry.
“I had two weeks off the bike in early May because of a chest infection so that wasn’t ideal.
“The legs felt okay but after that I was knocked out and had two courses of antibiotics. I feel fine now and I think towards the end of the Rás I should go alright.”
And with a stage coming to Dungarvan on Friday, he’s hoping those legs do come round.
“My wife has been giving out to me all week for being on the phone and answering messages of good luck from friends!
“It’ll be good craic and hopefully I get to Dungarvan and then Skerries for the finish on Sunday week.
“I don’t know what to anticipate with such a hilly route but it’ll be good craic and I can’t wait to see some of the faces I haven’t seen in a while and helping the younger guys in any way I can.”
The An Post Rás starts this morning from Dublin Castle at noon and takes the riders on a 144-kilometre journey to Multyfarnham in Westmeath.
After that there are stage finishes in Charleville, Sneem, Dingle, Clonakilty, Dungarvan, Baltinglass and Skerries.
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'I went from doing interviews on RTÉ as a pro-cyclist to working a minimum wage job'
CIARÁN POWER IS one of the most successful Rás riders of the modern era and as well as being a two-time winner and double Olympian, he spent several years in the professional ranks, travelling and racing around the world against the world’s best.
But like many top sportsmen when they retire, the transition to ‘real’ life can be tough and the Waterford man found it particularly so when he eventually hung up his wheels in 2008.
That decision was effectively made for him at the end of that season when his team didn’t renew his contract and at 32, found himself with little money to his name and less of a clue of where he’d go next.
With no college education or qualifications, Ireland’s highest ever placed finisher at the Olympics (2008) found himself working minimum wage on a factory floor in Waterford.
“I went from doing interviews on RTÉ at the Tour of Ireland, being this cool pro-cyclist to going straight into a minimum wage job on the Monday afterwards,” he said.
“That was quite hard. I didn’t know what the future held for me at that point.”
Alas, he trained as a neuromuscular physical therapist and has his own thriving practice in his home city.
But that doesn’t mean the last few years have been any easier. In fact, they were anything but.
His mother passed away last year after a long battle with a terminal illness while his wife Lisa was diagnosed with cancer some years ago too. She’s since made a full recovery and has been the rock upon which Power has rebuilt himself.
During that time he piled on the weight and from a point in his life where he was so diligent about his training and diet he’d weigh his food, he no longer cared.
“I went through a couple of really crappy years, my Mam passed away and my wife was sick, I was overweight and depressed.
“I piled on the weight and if anyone said anything I’d just pile on more. It eventually got to a stage where I took a look at myself in the mirror and said ‘something must change, this cannot continue’.”
Having recently turned 40, Power set himself a target of doing the An Post Rás, the country’s most gruelling bike race.
He’s won it twice in the past (1998 and 2002) but he was a professional back then and that was his job.
As well as that, he was a mean mid-80 kilo piece of dynamite who could fly up hills and sprint with the best in the world.
When he started training in October of last year he was a staggering 112 kilos and unable to keep pace with the Sunday spins.
But little by little, he’s changed things around. The drinking is gone, the eating is scaled back, the mileage has been upped incrementally and the appetite for battle is right on point.
“It got to a stage where I couldn’t go for a walk for more than a few minutes without being out of breath. I’ve sports-mad kids who are always in the garden playing football or basketball and I thought what a shame if I couldn’t even play with them.
“I’m probably sprinting better now than I was when I was a pro. I’d actually be 100% confident that I’m sprinting better now!”
He’ll line up in the five-man Comeragh team for the An Post Rás today, a team he’s been affiliated with since he was 11 years old.
Three of the team will be making their debuts in the race and against full-time professionals, Power knows their chances are limited.
“For myself, it’ll be the first time I do it for Comeragh and that’ll be pretty cool.
“To be honest, I’m just looking forward to a week off work!
“Every time I’ve done it before I did it as a pro so I can’t wait to give that quote to one of the pros next week when he’s screaming at me to ride harder I’ll turn to him and say “I’ve to go to work Monday!” That’s one of my goals!”
He’s been sick of late, so preparation hasn’t been ideal. But with such experience he knows he could do worse than to worry.
“I had two weeks off the bike in early May because of a chest infection so that wasn’t ideal.
“The legs felt okay but after that I was knocked out and had two courses of antibiotics. I feel fine now and I think towards the end of the Rás I should go alright.”
And with a stage coming to Dungarvan on Friday, he’s hoping those legs do come round.
“It’ll be good craic and hopefully I get to Dungarvan and then Skerries for the finish on Sunday week.
“I don’t know what to anticipate with such a hilly route but it’ll be good craic and I can’t wait to see some of the faces I haven’t seen in a while and helping the younger guys in any way I can.”
The An Post Rás starts this morning from Dublin Castle at noon and takes the riders on a 144-kilometre journey to Multyfarnham in Westmeath.
After that there are stage finishes in Charleville, Sneem, Dingle, Clonakilty, Dungarvan, Baltinglass and Skerries.
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