GERARD CALLAGHAN has been on the saddle for over 24 hours continuously but still on course to finish the ‘Race Around Ireland’ tonight after a few difficult days.
Letterkenny native Callaghan’s teammate in the two-man event, Michael Russell, has suffered a recurrence of an Achilles injury in both legs and can only play a minimal part through the pain barrier.
Callaghan (pictured above) and Russell, the Tir Chonaill Wheelers, are still on the 2,134km course, approaching Wexford town before making their way north with the finish line in Trim, Co Meath.
“We’re still pushing for home after Mickey’s achilles on both ankles,” Callaghan said this afternoon. “They’re old injuries recurring. Mickey is cycling for me to eat – he’s the toughest man on the planet. Anyone else would’ve gone home!
“We were on 97 hours finishing pace when disaster struck at around 2am Tuesday. I’ve been going all the time while he can barely pedal through the pain long enough to let me eat. But we got this! We’ve 150 miles to go! I’ve done almost 24hrs non stop now just fuelling up for the last 150 miles.”
“Thanks for all the support. We’re still going and should finish well within the limit. Well done Team Donegal Oil and team Restwise/ Ted’s Bike Shop, who finished last night! Up Donegal!”
Late last night, the first two crews – Team Donegal Oil and Ted’s Rentwise/ Bike Shop – got safely home.
The four-man Team Donegal Oil of Sean McFadden and Arthur McMahon from Letterkenny, Convoy’s Gavin Harris and Falcarragh native Michael McGarvey finished in a provisional time of 80 hours and two minutes – that was fifth overall and third in the four-man teams.
In the two-man event, Rentwise/ Ted’s Bike Shop, made up of Eunan Quinn from Ballybofey and Ted McCaffrey of Donegal town finished second in a provisional time of 80 hours and 25 minutes, which was sixth overall.
