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52nd FBD Milk Rás - 2.5
Ireland, May 23-30, 2004
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Mark Lovatt's diary
A British rider with the composite team Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn, supported by Planet X bikes, Mark Lovatt is a contender for the overall victory at the Milk Rás and hopes to be able to give us a daily update from inside the race.
Stage 3 - May 25: Oranmore - Charleville, 152 km
Kevin's turn
Yesterday I talked about my futile attempt. Today it was Kevin's turn for a futile attempt after 4km into the stage, but as it happens, it wasn't so futile and he stayed out all day. Apart from that, today was steady and what I expect in Ireland - rubbish roads.
For the first time this week we've not had roast beef, potato and carrots. Malcolm reckoned that with a pudding and some black peas, we'd be more at home and maybe it was an attempt at Yorkshire cuisine.
Stage 2 - May 24: Trim - Oranmore, 167 km
Just like the telly
Another day, another futile maneuver for about five miles, before the real break happened just when my legs started stinging.
Today there was a big bunch of 35 riders to catch up, with rest of the Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn team in the bunch. I'd just caught up with John to watch him snap a spoke and swap positions with me before the last stages in to Orinmore. We decided to lead Malcom in like we'd seen on telly. Malcom managed a third.
Out on the road today I saw some real nice houses that I can't afford and Kev saw a sign for 'Big Dump' but that's not as funny as the menu for the 'Gaylord Tandoori' just 500m from this establishment.
Tonight I'm dreaming of a Gaylord Platter.
Stage 1 - May 23: Dublin - Trim, 132 km
Surprised myself
I was sitting on the back feeling sorry for myself, as usual and wishing I'd not drunk so much on Friday. After an hour and a half I decided t was time I better do some racing and on the climb out of Collon I was jumping about a bit. Some Swede said he couldn't understand how I raced or my style.
That made me think, "Neither can I."
Somehow after the first break was absorbed, I managed to fall into the race-winning break and started to feel better but with 10km to go the usual self-doubt began to surface.
Surprisingly I ended up with the stage win jersey. That's my second I've won by default as the other winners have got theirs, but it got me on the podium and that keeps the sponsors happy.
The only unlucky part of the day was I wasn't there to witness Malcolm crawling on his hands and knees trying to find his computer that had fallen off 20 miles back from the finish. He found it though.
