A MECHANICAL IN the final lap of the Men’s C4-5 Road Race denied Ronan Grimes a much deserved high to end his cycling career on.
Grimes had been in 11th place going into the final lap but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. He ultimately finished in 17th place.
Racing around the 99.4km circuit Clichy-Sous-Bois, Paris this morning was his final appearance for Team Ireland following a fantastic Para-cycling career.
Grimes has been a longstanding member of the Team Ireland Para-cycling squad. He has now competed in two Paralympic Games – Tokyo and Paris. Competing on both the track and the road. Grimes has multiple World Championship top ten placings to his name.
The race started at blistering speed as the attacks began on the first lap and continued throughout. Despite the speed Grimes was well positioned after Lap 1 as he crossed the line in 6th place, just 17 seconds behind the leader.
It wasn’t until the third lap that a gap started to open as the lead stretched to 2:48 after 4 laps. However, Grimes was maintaining his position in the top 10 comfortably and was well positioned to improve his position as he started the final lap.
The race was won by Ukrainian Yehor Dementyev followed in silver medal position by home favourite Kevin Le Cunff with Martin Van de Pol taking bronze for the Netherlands.
Speaking after the race Grimes said, “I’m finished now, and I’m retired. This is my last race. It was nice to finish my last race rather than finish it in the car.
“I’m happy, like I am, I’m a bit disappointed, like I would have liked to have finished top ten, that would have been a nice cherry on the cake, but overall, like I look back fondly on this, and yeah, like I think I can finish on it.”
Speaking about his mechanical issue, he said, “So I knew at that stage I was pinned on the road, which would have been a problem. You’re reliant on the official cars, and it was just unfortunate that we had a car in our group, and it just moved ahead of me when I was distanced there, and there didn’t seem to be another car in the group.
“My tenth position would have been a really good result in that C4, C5 race. Five minutes later I saw the group behind come by, and then the next group behind come by, and then the car was put into neutral service, and then eventually a wheel came, and I’d say the officials were upset with me wanting to finish it, but I really wanted to finish the race. I kept them waiting for a bit longer for me to finish.”
They were right to not call up a few hangers-on who’ve done nothing in an Irish jersey for years. A central midfield of Taylor and Cullen might give us the kind of legs in midfield we’ve been sorely lacking for years.
For sure… there is a deal of critism towards current crop of players, and managers should protect them. But its more utter disappointment, and frustration. I’ve watched every Ireland game for decades. They’re professionals playing at top clubs, and they’ve earned our frustrations. We’ve lost to Luxemburg. I watched us draw to New Zealand in the Aviva, and we were without purpose going forward. On paper, would you select Scotland’s squad over Ireland? We’ve been utterly outplayed by Greece 3 times in the last couple of yrs. I’ve seen greater passion, organization, and identity from my kids under-aged teams that this group. Against england we looked like kids playing men. With respect — and I follow every irish player — but they’re earned the fans disappointment. You don’t get kudos and respect for coming and simply playing. If you don’t want to play, withdrawn from the international team.
@Derek Creevey: Scotland on paper have better players than us, not world beaters by any means but we have nobody like Robertson, Pinnock, mctominy, Mcguinn, gilmour.
Agreed that we should be doing better. Whelan was giving an opinion based on what he’d seen I think. Pretty damning for the players.
Why is John Oshea doing press conferences again?
Players don’t try to under perform and while we are not overflowing with household names, perhaps some of the criticism is directed towards the management and coaching staff, we seemed lost in the games so far. Take a bit of responsibility John, and get structure for the team
@James Cronin: we are going backwards
@Alan Moloney: that’s just a reflection on the quality of players in this country. In the past we replied on English born players to bolster the squad and now we don’t really have that anymore.
@Alan Moloney: unfortunately we look like we are well back
@James Cronin: and the FAI €40M in the red were did this all go wrong
This is just our standard these days at the rate we are going we could be minnows of football soon
@Leighton Cullen: Yes that’s how far we have gone back will hit them all hard in the pocket
If the FAI had made an appointment months earlier the Manager wouldn’t have to use competitive matches to look at new players. Hard to believe Tom Cannon can’t make even the under 21 squad !!!
The importation of foreign players in the English Premier League and even at the championship level has had a knockback effect on the international teams in the home nations and Ireland. Whereas we had a team of then First division stars then interspersed with a couple from the lower divisions its the opposite now. They have their talents, but the problem lies with the management team and their game plans. The Kenny era lives on via o Shea and Co. Systems must be changed to suit the players at our disposal!!!
Agreed with JOS. We have decent players, problem is they are playing below the sum of their parts.