by Seán Moriarty

Rising Killarney cycling star Sam Bolger spent much of the summer on the pro-cycling scene in Belgium.

Earlier this year the 18-year-old was selected as one of four riders for the Belgian Project – one of the most prestigious stepping stones for Irish riders with ambitions to turn professional.

Over the last 15 years Northern Ireland-based Belgian Danny Blondell selects between four and six Irish riders and sends them to Belgium where they stay with local families and contest pro and semi-pro races.

Bolger was selected for the Belgian Project while racing the Junior Tour of Ireland with the Munster team in July. He then travelled to Austria with the Munster squad to race in a three-day event before making his own way to Belgium by train.

The Lewis Road man spent three weeks living with a Belgian cycling family in the village of Moorslede in Flanders. In that part of the world cycling is bigger than the GAA in Kerry.

“On my first day, I went with the family to watch a pro-race,” Bolger told the Killarney Advertiser. “There were 40,000 people lining the streets. In Belgium the locals use these events as social occasions and go out and meet their friends.”

This criterium race in Roeselare – on a Tuesday evening – attracted entries from Tour de France stars like Tom Pidcock and Green Jersey winner Wout Van Aert.

During his three weeks there Bolger contested seven races – known locally as Kermesse – each with over 100 junior starters that ran over three or four laps of a town centre course.

“A Kermesse is a short circuit through a town or village which must include a pub and a church,” he added.

“It is all part of the social scene – always loads of people out watching. Even the pro races have bookies on site.”

Races are run over much narrower roads than Irish events. It took a bit of getting used to as any rider trapped in the bunch would find it very hard to get back to the front of the pack.

“Irish races are run on main roads. Any trouble and you just go over to the wrong side of the road and power your way back to the front. There is no wrong side in Belgium, either the road is too narrow or it’s lined with people.”

The road racing season has now closed in Ireland. Bolger’s last outing was the Charleville Two-Day in Cork a few weeks ago where he placed sixth overall in amongst senior riders. He moves to off-road Cyclocross for the winter season.

Sam paid tribute to Killarney Cycling Club and his teammates for all of the support and encouragement throughout the year.