South Yorkshire Times, April 30th, 1960
Conisbrough Rider Enjoying the Continental Circuit
Eighty-eight riders battling for supremacy along narrow, grit-strewn roads . . . the gruelling races, the trials and spills that make Continental cycling the toughest in the world..
These are described by 21-years-old Sean Ryan, the Conisbrough Ivanhoe “rider of fortune” who left for France last month.
Sean, of Parkgate, and Gordon Neale. of Swinton, sailed with £100 in their pockets. Already Sean has enjoyed a good measure of success in large fields, which included many ‘independents”
In a letter to Mr. Raymond Longley, Ivanhoe Club secretary, Sean, a well-known South Yorkshire cyclist writes: “My first race—at St. Brieuc—was for club members only. There were about 30 riders. ”
I broke away from the start and won by five minutes. After the event all members went to their newly-built club building which is four stories high, and accommodates all sport In St Brieuc (fencing, basketball, boxing, etc). Wine was served to everybody, which happens to be a regular custom.”
85 Contestants
Sean goes on to describe his second race at Dinan: “The event-18 laps—was for all categories on a five k m. circuit. There were 85 riders and most of the course was meant only for farmyard traffic, flattened mud and grit. It could only take two riders side by side.
“It started very fast. On the 17th lap I caught the leading bunch and on the last hill many dropped off and our group was cut down to seven. On the 18th lap I thought I had the race In the hag, and clumbing the mud and grit-covered road I found myself the strongest of the bunch with the others gasping on my wheel.’
Sean adds: But for the finish I was passed by three riders three yards before the Ilne.” Sean was placed fourth—a length behind the winner—and received prizes worth 11,000 francs.
In his third race–a 30 kilometre affair, not knowing it was another rough circuit, he raced with 6 oz. tubes—one of which blew mid-way in the race.
“In The Ditch”
He describes how two riders landed in a ditch after being forced of the narrow road only 50 yards from the start. After two laps the leading “bunch’ had to stop when one competitor crashed down, completely blocking the road.
He writes: “My rear tube blew out. A large crowd gatheredround and three men helped me change my tube and set me on my way again. Unfortunately my gears had been damaged and I had to pack in.”
“It was then that a doctor took me to his large white house to get washed and changed, and made me drink a bottle of wine and took me back in his car to watch the finish of the race.
Sean, who writes that he is training every day, mentions other races in which he Intended to take part, one being at Lamballe, with a field of 122 Independents and amateurs :