Ascent of cycling in Ireland covered in extensive detail

WHILE FANS of cycling have been dragged through the ringer over the last decade or so, constantly on the defensive about a sport that has had more problems than heroes, they have been lucky in one sense, as the variety of reading available on the sport is fairly extensive.

This section has reviewed plenty of them, ‘The End of the Road’ by Alasdair Fotheringham, Peter Cossins’ book ‘The Monuments’, as well as autobiographies by Chris Boardman and George Hincapie. They all have their qualities and generally cycling books are well put together with plenty of care and attention.

None of those books, however, are directed squarely at the Irish market. The big two, Seán Kelly and Stephen Roche, have previously released their own autobiographies and they have their merits but Barry Ryan’s new publication, ‘The Ascent’, is more than a puff piece of Irish cycling history, it dips its toes into murky waters too.

This book is based on the rise of Irish cycling in the 1980s. Of course, that means heavy doses of the big two, but it also delves into the likes of Paul Kimmage and Martin

Earley. The first few chapters detail their paths into cycling and give the reader a clear idea of each individual background and personality.

It’s clear from the early pages that Ryan has a nice style about his writing. It’s not all flowery but it is quirky at times. That said, it wouldn’t alienate the reader, regardless of their level of English. A few quick trips to

Google to examine the origins of a word never saw anyone come to harm.

The text moves pretty quickly into their respective amateur careers and motors along into the pro’s. Before long the book gets pretty deep into their success and failures and follows a reasonably strict chronological order, although it does jump back a season here or there when moving between cyclists.

It’s at this stage when some might feel it gets a little information heavy. Successes seem to blend into failures and it’s at this point, around the middle of the publication, when maybe a break is needed. In particular, putting ‘The Ascent’ down for the non-cycling fan will help the enjoyment of the book as a whole.

Inevitably, performance enhancing drugs and mentions of their use is a strong undertone throughout the book.

Some of Kimmage’s contributions on this topic are, unsurprisingly, interesting and he doesn’t hold back when it comes to linking Kelly and Roche in the dopers’ category. In fact, the last several chapters get really juicy in that regard.

Author Ryan examines plenty of the evidence. He talks about the court cases, he mentions the public reaction to Kelly and Roche and how it differed in comparison to Michelle Smith.

He brings up interviews on the ‘Late Late Show’ that seemed to be skewed in favour of the duo, so it’s a mightily fascinating last few chapters.

Who should buy ‘The Ascent’? Well, for starters this is a nice little wrap-up for Christmas for any cycling fan.

Even those that remember well the halcyon days of Kelly and Roche will find plenty to keep them interested.

They’ll find out stuff that they didn’t know and other info. that they might have forgotten.

More that that, this book can be enjoyed by any fan of Irish sport. It delves into all the important situations without being too heavy on the technical aspects of cycling.

Even those that don’t have any real interest in the sport could pick up ‘The Ascent’ and still be happily reading it right to the end. DEAN GOODISON

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