THIS year the Co Carlow Sports Stars Awards are proud to induct the great Carlow cyclist Mike O’Donaghue into the Hall of Fame.
Over many years, Mike raced at the very top level of the sport in this country enjoying many memorable victories, including victory in the Rás Tailteann in 1973.
It all started in May, 1960 when a 14-year-old, Mike cycled to Monasterevin to compete in a beginners’ road race over 20 miles.
He had no idea about the tactics of cycling but had read about the event in The Nationalist and decided to give it a try.
On arrival, he found that not all the participants in the race were true beginners. He also found that his bike was much heavier and less well-equipped than those of the other competitors.
This did not deter the young cyclist who went on to win the event in a sprint finish and so began the journey that would see him become one of the best-known cyclists in the country.
During the next few years he served his time taking part in novice cycle races on the road and track throughout Leinster and he joined United Road Club in Clane, a club that had some formidable members who represented Kildare in the Rás Tailteann, the premier event on the Irish cycling calendar. Mike followed the race as a spectator in 1962 and 1963 and formed the ambition to take part himself.
He had no coach but had read about the great Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi whose message was “ride a bike, ride a bike, ride a bike” and so the young Carlow man pounded the roads in order to reach his goal.
His simply wanted to finish the Rás, which was seen as an achievement in itself, and it was not unusual for Mike to be seen 60 or 70 miles from home on his training spins.
In 1964 he became the first Carlow man to enter the Rás and he astounded everyone by finishing 6th behind the legendary Paddy Flanagan from Kildare.
Mike reached the pinnacle by winning the event in 1973, winning both the second and fourth stages with the second stage winding its way from Carlow to Waterford.
He took the overall going into Belmullet, Co Mayo and he then held on to the yellow jersey over the remaining four days, holding off the challenge of Frenchman Bernard Dupin and Mick Cahill of Cork to win as he raced into Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
Mike secured six other top 10 finishes in the race including a second place in 1972, winning over 10 stages.
Before winning the Rás, Mike was also successful in other multi-stage events and won the three-day Tour of Munster three times in a row.
He was renowned for his sprinting ability but was also recognised for his endurance and quick recovery, a necessary trait in long-distance events.
Mike represented Ireland on numerous occasions and finished 10th in the international five-day event in France in 1971.
He also pulled off an incredible double in September 1969 when he won the longest ever single day event held in Ireland – the Dublin to Tralee marathon over 192 miles – and three weeks later he won the Sprint Championship of Ireland over 200m – the shortest race on the calendar.
Mike was one of the inaugural winners of the Sports Awards and was voted Carlow’s Young Person of the Year in 1967.
Now a little older, Mike continues to ride his bike for pleasure and covers up to 40 miles most days. A true bike man always loves to cycle.