Roche and Porte were impressed with the scenery

Roche and Porte were impressed with the scenery

24 June 2015

TWO local men enjoyed the ride of a lifetime alongside cycling legends Stephen Roche and Richie Porte in the international Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia on Sunday.

Gavin Oakes and Fergus Rooney, from Downpatrick, enjoyed hours of conversation with former Tour de France winner Roche, who was an ambassador for the event, and Team Sky rider Porte, winner of this year’s Paris-Nice, Tour of Catalunya and Giro del Trentino stages races.

The local duo, who are members of the competitive Phoenix Cycling Club, finished a highly impressive 32nd and 34th out of over 3,000 riders.

Even so, they did not consider the 177km course around the Mournes to be a race but rather an opportunity to socialise with some of the sport’s most accomplished riders.

Despite their laid back attitude, the men finished the route, from Belfast’s Titanic Quarter into the Mournes, in five and a half hours.

Gavin, who only took up cycling two to three years ago after years of dedicated marathon running, said his aim was to stay with the professional riders and enjoy the event.

“We stayed together and chatted to them the whole way round,” he said.

“The only time we weren’t talking was during the steeper climbs. We did not see it as a race, it was more of a leisurely cycle and the opportunity to see how it is done by the big names.

“They could have gone flat out from the gun but they didn’t. They took their time with us and were very humble.”

Despite describing Roche as a “legend”, Gavin says he was not star struck due to the rider’s down to earth nature.

“They were so impressed by the scenery over the Mournes. Even Stephen, with his experience as an ex-Tour de France winner, loved it. The chosen route was fantastic.”

Fergus, who has ridden some of Ireland’s biggest races, said he too considered the ride a social event that gave ordinary riders the opportunity to ride alongside professionals.

“There are people who will go for the top places but it is not a race,” he said.

“I remember Stephen Roche from when I was a child. It was great to have him there.

“I have met a few professionals and raced against them. Because we are cyclists that does tend to be what you chat about, but on Sunday because we were cycling for so long we did chat about a lot.

“It was a very sociable event and a lovely experience to have a good one to one with somebody who was once an idol.”

Fergus said Porte, who is from Tasmania, was so impressed by the local scenery he has pledged to return on holiday.,

“He was very friendly and honest and commented on how the landscape reminded him of Tasmania. He liked the countryside and the buzz and said he wanted to come back on a holiday. It was a good day out,” he said.

The Gran Fondo was the legacy event of last year’s Giro d’Italia cycle race. In addition to the course in the Mournes, there was a shorter 48km course around the shores of Strangford Lough.