Griffin into the great unknown
“I don’t know myself what my form is like this year,” he admitted as he put the finishing touches to his preparations. “I know we have developed a love-hate relationship over the years but this is a race I would love to win.”
The teak-tough Tralee man went close last year when Brian Kenneally came back to win the title for a second time and then there was the year when he held the yellow jersey with a second to spare over fellow Kerry man, Eugene Moriarty, and ended up third when John Dempsey (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers) and Conor Murphy from Monaghan) slipped away on the final stage.
“That’s the type of race it is,” the Earl of Desmond rider said. “I would like to think I am in the same type of shape as last year. I work full-time with Rentokil so I only get on the bike after work. I have a couple of results behind me.
“I was second to Sean Lacey in the Lacey Cup and I was fourth in Carrick so there were glimmers there – basically the same as last year – but I was disappointed with my form in the Ben McKenna Memorial when I expected to make an impression.
“Rás Mumhan suits me – the long hard stages. A lot of the races are 50 miles long and flat – the 70, 80 and 90 mile stages suit me. I have good stamina.
“There is a strong field there again this year and obviously Sean Lacey is the man in form at the moment but I would have a lot of respect for the Dutch riders.
“Young Dion Beukeboom won the first stage last year and he was the only man who could stay with myself and Brian Kenneally. I have met up with Tino Haakman quite a lot both here and in Asia and he was second to Ciaran Power the year he won it.”
This year’s race will cover 453km (283 miles) that includes 27 categorised climbs with a field of 140 riders from Ireland, England, Wales, Isle of Man, Holland, Turkey and Germany taking part.
There is a prize fund of €5,550 on offer over the four days .
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