Le Grand Tour
The following accounts offer a window into a defining era for the club, documenting a time when summer meant more than just training—it meant adventure. Between the ambitious French expedition of 1986 and the final oversubscribed trek through Scotland in 1993, these tours were the heartbeat of our community.
Through the eyes of members like Vincent Supple and Conor O’Dwyer, we revisit the grueling climbs, the "pure magic" of the professional Peloton, and the unwavering support teams that made these journeys possible. More than just a test of endurance, these tours were a masterclass in mentorship, bringing together seasoned riders and thirteen-year-old novices to share in the grit and glory of the open road.
In early July 1986, 42 club members disembarked in Le Havre for 17 days of cycling and camping through France to catch a ferry home to Rosslare from Cherbourg. The group was mixed—25 male and 17 female—with 13-year-olds Keith Ennis and Nicky Colgan being the youngest. Their grand tour took them through Lisieux, Versailles, Paris, Chartres, and into the Loire Valley, passing through Blois, Tours, Angers, Fougere, Dinard, St. Malo, Le Mont St. Michel, and Bayeux.
“The highlight was a diversion to Evreux for the finish of the fourth stage of the real Tour de France – pure magic," recalled Vincent Supple. "We were blessed with two marvelous back-up teams in two vans: Pat Feehan and his brother-in-law Dave Colgan, working with Roisin Keohe, Tracy McDonnell, and Linda McCarthy. The cyclists were amazing too in their sparkling new club jerseys. This was a great adventure for everyone, especially the young riders, and not without risk. But we knew them, trained them, and trusted them. It was a truly memorable trip.”
For many years, these long domestic tours involving hostel camping ran every summer. Riders spent days on the road cresting every hill in Ireland, covering hundreds of miles at a time and picking up "strays" along the way.
“I had become bored with racing and I was taking a break from the focused training regime," said Conor O’Dwyer. "I had heard Bray CC had a touring group, so early on a Saturday morning, I drove with my father Dermot to Bray to meet them. Unfortunately, we missed them, so we pedalled over Bray Head and there, by chance, found a group of leisure riders escorted by more experienced-looking riders. I don’t remember anything out of the ordinary happening on my first spin with Tiernan’s, but I knew that this was the club that would rekindle my spirit and motivate me to race again.”
Tiernan’s final summer tour to Scotland in 1993 was oversubscribed. With their loyal back-up in support, the group cycled and camped for two weeks from Stranraer to Dumfries, Edinburgh, Stirling, Crianlarich, Oban, Glasgow, and back to Stranrear.
