Sean Kelly's last race as a pro : Dec 1994

[limerickman]

I've access to a scanner and I thought that the Forum might be interested in
photographs taken of Sean Kelly's last race as a professional on 15th December 1994.

The Carrick Wheelers used have the annual "Hamper Race" and each year Sean would take part with his old club - while at home at X-Mas durig the off season.

Therefore it was fitting that the annual Hamper Race be the final race of SK's career.
In 1994 though - the standard of the field was slightly better than the usual standard.

Eddy Merckx, laurent Fignon, Bernard Hinault, Roger DeVlaemick, Claude Criquillion, Stephen Roche, Martin Earley, Acascio DeSilva, Paul Kimmage, Phil Ligget - were just some of the 1,500 cyclists who cycled with Sean that day.

The President of Ireland - Her Excellency Mary Robinson attended a civic presentation to Sean the day before the race.

A great weekend - enjoy.


171=Laurent Fignon, Joe Barr, Claude Crquillion, Martin Earley (Yellow)
172=Merckx &DeVlamick speaking to Kelly's manager Frank Quinn
174=Merckx
175=Man in brown crombie is Joe Kelly (Sean's Father)
177=Phil Ligget introducing Bernard Hinault
178=The start of the race, Fignon, Merckx, Laurence Roche, DaSilva on the right hand side of the photo.

 

[limerickman]

179=Bernard Hinault departs the podium (Frank Quinn's Kelly manager is tapping him on the back)
180=Paul Kimmage (in white) awaits the start.
182=Hinault persented to the crowd.
187=Merckx makes his way to the start
190=Merckx

 

[limerickman]

190=Merckx
186=Kelly

 

[strummer_fan]

190=Merckx
186=Kelly

Lim-
Thanks for posting these!

 

[limerickman]

You're very welcome Strummer Fan : I'll post some more later.

 

[DiabloScott]

So, did Eddy let Sean win?

 

[limerickman]

So, did Eddy let Sean win?

Course he did.

The first 40 miles were controlled - the grupetto cycled from carrick on Suir to clonmel in a circuit.
(That stretch of road was where Kelly did the fastest TT in the world - at that time - during the Nissan Classic in 1986 : famous piece of TV footage).

The race commissaire (Hinault) then dropped the flag to terminate the neutralised phase.

Merckx at that point dropped out.

The finish was pretty exciting Kelly was lead out by Carrick pro Michael Fitzgerald - with Stephen Roche no less trying to chase down Sean!
But Sean (totally unexpectedly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) beat SR in the finish.