Good luck this weekend!

Easter's a busy time for Irish racing, and we've got two teams headed to Kerry for the 4 day Rás Mumhan which starts today, a large selection riding out from Blessington tomorrow for the Gorey 3 Day, and then the next round of the women's Joe Daly Cycles' National League in Laois on Sunday. Darragh Long is in Belgium with the NRPT team too.

Best of luck to everyone - keep us posted if you can!

Tough day at the office. As Philippe said, a typical Gorey 3 Day stage, fast and furious for much of the time. Was feeling very comfortable throughout until 100km in I broke a spoke and had to get a wheel change. What followed was 30 minutes of pure misery while trying to get back on. Having the race stopped and hearing about the crash puts your own dramas into perspective though.

All the lads did really well and stayed with the main bunch throughout. We're well supported here with Declan Quigley driving the car as manager, ably assisted by Emma Convey and Sandra Telford. It makes a massive difference having some help from your clubmates on a weekend like this.

What a day. Started on a high by riding a decent TT and getting 15th on the stage. Went into the afternoon's stage feeling good. But that was one tough race. Freezing rain, strong winds and some aggressive racing. Lost contact with about a lap to go. Tried to get back on through the cars but the legs were gone. It was one of the toughest days I've had on a bike. Couldn't feel my hands afterwards with the cold.

Philippe was amazing. Started the stage 19th overall and then got up in the sprint to take seventh on the stage. Getting a result on a day like today is some going.

I went down to Kerry this weekend thinking I was a hard man for attempting the Rás Mumhan with so little training. However, watching Pat, Tom, Neal, Aido and Eric pick themselves up off the ground after their crashes, and in every case ride on and appear at the start line the next day entirely voluntarily - I learned what hard men truly are. Particularly Pat and Neal, who were in a bad way after their incidents and yet rode the next day as if nothing had happened - supremely impressive lads. Aido and Eric were up with the front group every day, along with Diarmuid when he wasn't busy putting together some delicious slow-cooked lamb for the team. Odhran and the Hurleys were great to have around as well, with acres of experience and anecdotes between them, and plenty of helpful advice - not to mention Graham personally washing my gear every day. And thank you to Eric for driving me from Dublin and to stage starts.

For me, the race was tough. I'm not used to being dropped on the first climb, but it was my fate three days out of four. I had flashbacks to being a novice A4 in the Ras de Cymru. While the wonderful Dr Lucy was kept busy treating our various crash victims, thankfully the only time I saw her during the race was when I was in the cars trying to hang on to the bunch (and failing). It was great to find my legs on the last day, and give the irrepressible Fi Cooke something to tweet about. And thanks to Joe Daly's for the supplies - I ran out after chomping down five gels trying not to bonk on Saturday, so I couldn't have done it without that. And the magic hands of Rachel Glendon which got me through to the last stage!

Lastly, it's been fantastic reading back over the Gorey tweets and the entries here - sounds like nobody had an easy weekend, but there were a few great performances in there - Dick 15th in the TT, and Philippe's sprinting! Also, Gavin Dodd got up in Rás Chonamara - I hope to find a bit of time to get the race reports up soon! In the meantime, more 'recovery pints' await!