Mountcharles cyclist Jamie Meehan back from France for short break

Over the next few days you might see a familiar figure on the bike flying up the Mountcharles by-pass but don’t be alarmed. Jamie Meehan is back at home for a few days before the next stage of his cycling career in France.

The cyclist who won the Irish U-23 title last summer has been building his career in Frances with the CC Etupes team, joining them last January. The season has been going well although there was a little hiccup last weekend in their latest race, the Ronde L’lsard, when he was involved in a fall on a downhill chase but thankfully he escaped without serious injury.

With a number of his team involved in the crash and some others getting sick, it was decided to give the team members a break and that is the reason Meehan is back in Mountcharles until Thursday of next week.

“I think everybody was ready for a break so the team cancelled the race this weekend. The flights were cheap enough so it made sense to get home for a few days.”

The crash happened on Day 3 of the event.  “We were chasing back on to the front after the main climb on Day 3. We were 10-15 seconds off the front so we were taking a few risks to try and catch back up on the downhill. On one of the corners one of the guys got scared and he slammed on the brake. Sadly I was the next guy behind him and couldn’t really stop on time,” said Meehan, who was happy enough that he escaped with just a bit of road rash, “nothing too bad”.

Overall, Meehan is happy with the way his first season has been going: “Things have been going well. We had the training camp when I first went out and then we had a couple of flatter races where I was just getting around helping the team.

“I had a good run in a race called Annemasse, which would be one of the well-known races, a bit hillier. I got sixth there. I was in the front group and it came to a sprint finish between the six of us. I tried to go early but ended up sixth.”

After that Meehan returned to Ireland to race in Rás Mumhan 24 and performed really well, finishing 2nd in Stage 3 and two 4th places and was 5th in General Classification which he felt “was decent enough”.

“Then it was back to France again and I got second at one of the French Cup races, which are kinda the biggest races that we do, apart from the UCI races. I felt really good about that as it was a very good result for me.”

That was towards the end of May and represents his biggest achievement so far in his short career.

As for the Ronde L’lsard last week: “I never really felt great but I was able to hang in there or thereabouts and I finished up 13th overall, which considering I never felt great and the crash, I can be happy enough with.”

As for the overall season, Meehan is looking forward to another trip home for the Irish Nationals to be hosted by Newcastlewest  in Limerick towards the end of June, where he will defend his U-23 title.

“We are kinda nearly half way through the season. Looking at our calendar at the moment, July seems kinda empty. I know I’ll be going home again for the Nationals at the end of June. I’ll be going back out to France at the end of July, the Tour of Alsace. I’m not too sure what I’ll be doing after that. It will depend on what the Irish teams are doing and getting selection  for that.”

Jamie Meehan in action in France

There is another big race in France in August, the Tour de l'Avenir, which is the youth version of the Tour de France but Meehan is unsure whether Cycling Ireland will enter a team.

“ That depends on the Irish team if they have the budget to send us again this year.  Fingers crossed we will be able to compete.”

The other big race in Ireland, the Rás, is coming up shortly but Meehan has made a decision to give it a miss.

“It was a tough call to make whether to come home for it or not. But being realistic it’s not a race that suits me. It is just too flat. We’ve got a race in France at the same time which is  bit hillier, so for me it makes sense to stay in France and do the hilly race.

“I’m happy enough. Obviously the second at the French Cup event was a nice confidence boost. I don’t think I’ve done extraordinarily great yet but at the same time I’m happy enough with what I’ve got done so far.

“The teams are pretty good for English speaking which makes it a lot easier but I’m trying to learn that wee bit of French myself just to show that I’m making an effort.”

The schedule is busy and there isn’t much down time but Meehan seems very happy at the moment.

“It feels that the time is going in quick enough. Up in the morning and out on the bike, come back, make lunch and it’s not long then until it’s dinner. And some days I do a double day where I do a ride in the morning and gym in the evening. The time goes quick enough.”

He is also looking forward to some training when home, especially around the familiar hills of south  Donegal.

“It will be nice to get back on home roads for a few days. The weather is picking up so I have timed it well.”