Is This Beginner Cyclist Ready To Ride A Tour De France Stage?

[@gcn]

How do you think Cillian will get on at L’Étape du Tour de France?

[@andrewcockburn7484]

9.5 hours.

[@cilliankelly1]

@@andrewcockburn7484 I would be over the moon with that. I think I’ll be closer to 12 though 😬

[@donaldyoung8866]

Smash it

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

Hup ya boyo Cillian!

[@hughbriz]

I’m sure Cillian will do well - jus pace yourself and eat and drink enough and you will storm up the real Alpe d’Huez. Watch out for the slightly thinner air and chill at the top of the Galibier and best of luck!

[@oliverc1293]

This unfit-to-TdF pro transition has been great to watch. Could we also get some insights on the process in reverse, starring Dan?

[@whatwelearned]

haha oof

[@inz_uzi]

lol

[@cilliankelly1]

Heyo!

[@usa4034]

I feel like that could be a whole new channel... just watching Dan drink Belgian beers

[@dylan-5287]

Shots fired. Damn.

[@AlistairLattimore]

What a fantastic effort and great progress, congratulations Cillian! Also, Ollie is a great hype man - I was in fits with him egging them both on at the end :)

[@cilliankelly1]

Completely agree. He was a great master of ceremonies.

[@brucedenis71]

"I've done as much training as I can fit in without making my kids and my wife unhappy..." This is the fine line we all walk everyday, Cillian.

[@cilliankelly1]

Yeah. Happy wife happy life eh?

[@ChrisGuarraia]

Why is there no “Love” option for this video? Cillian, you did an amazing job! 32% faster is just bonkers after a few months of prep. Your holding off Conor and tearing up the last 100m is the stuff of dreams and legends. Good luck on the Etape. This effort should make the Etape shake in its cycling shoes. You are gonna smash it. Way to go, mate! Chapeau!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot Chris! I think some of that improvement wasn't actual improvement, it was me having learned that I'm actually able to push myself way more than I thought. So when I did the original 2 hours 2 minutes up Alpe du Zwift, I definitely wasn't trying as hard as I could have - I didn't wring everything out. I didn't know how. But I've learned how, I think. So there's a mixture of fitness gains, but I think some of it was mental too.

[@havefunandbikestuffOver40]

Cillian!!! Excellent effort 👌! Very nice! And well done. Conor isn't no small hiccup to overcome with the torque his lengthy frame outputs in power. Great having Ollie's commentary ad it went on. Very entertaining 👏 please more like this! Aloha 🎉

[@philipcooper8297]

From my own experience, in the first 3, or several, months you progress so much it's surreal. You're going from zero to hero, being motivated by your new found joy in riding a bike. When I first got into road cycling, everything hurt a lot and 20km ride was pretty much all I could do without complaining. In just several months everything changed and these days I can do a 100km ride under 5 hours with ease. I don't care for nutrition and all that, I just want to ride my bike and I do enjoy every second of it. I even commute on my bike to work from spring to autumn.

[@cjohnson3836]

Commuting right now is the thing killing me. I commute 12 months. Its over 40c right now. Went on a 1 hour ride a few days back and lost 2kg of water weight. Commuting 40min each way in the heat isn't allowing for recovery.

[@MCsharp420]

Unless you have alot of elevation 100km should be easy under 4 hours, for an amateur If you ride a road bike of course.

[@philipcooper8297]

@@MCsharp420 Mountains, mountains everywhere.

[@Bazza1968]

Just did a road 100km today in 4:07....780m ascent here in the Scottish Highlands (But I'm 54, just 1m70cm and a stubborn 86kg lol) I've found that commuting is making things better- just 2.5km each way but drops into a bridge with a steep-ish climb out either side that I'm using as intervals to and from work....funnily enough I've just beaten my Strava bests (on the road bike in full road kit) on my 1995 Claud Butler steel rigid mtb 3x5 with rack, pannier, flatties and semi slicks, in work clothes and safety boots that weigh almost a kilo each lol

[@michaelmoore4369]

Awesome progression, Cillian. You’re an inspiration. Kudos to Conor and Ollie for the support.

[@keithmccann2640]

Really enjoyed watching that, best of luck Killian!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Cheers Keith!

[@ianhuckle8101]

Loved the sneaky Lance quote.... Has Cillian been at the red eggs & got moto man onboard 😀

[@baslyosestifanos149]

BY FAR the best bike race I've seen in a few years! 👏👏👏

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Fantastic. So glad you enjoyed it

[@gcn]

Edge of your seat stuff!

[@Seppster58]

That was an incredible ride by Cillian. Felt like I was watching an actual finish to a Tour De France stage. Way to go!!! Can't wait for that attempt in the real world now. Conor is such an excellent coach. Great job guys.

[@gcn]

Didn't expect him to have that kind of sprint in his legs

[@cilliankelly1]

@@gcn Neither did I!

[@bergerniklas6647]

Great to see John in the background. Still have a smile on my face if i hear the katsching sound in a tech episode...

[@cjphelp]

Great video and amazing effort! Nice work!

[@cilliankelly1]

Cheers Chris!

[@OhThatsZeke]

Fantastic effort Cillian! I was having a great time cheering you on, I had a blast watching!

[@cilliankelly1]

Great! So glad you enjoyed it 👍🏼

[@wspmjw]

Cillian, Your fitness is amazing. As a 61-year-old (serious rider for 7 years) your improvement is incredible and you have the confidence and wisdom you need for this Sportif to be an accomplishment to be proud of and the first of many to come. See if GNC will send you their new pro kit. It'll look smashing on you. Go, go, GO! Supporting you from Northern Colorado, USA!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot Mike! Not sure I did enough to blag the new kit. But the red one ain’t so bad!

[@evigvandrare]

I love seeing the update. You fucking rock Cillian! It's nice to see someone I can identify with in life commitments, fitness level and power zones and see how much you've improved over the three months. I'm closing the end of my first month back on a proper training program after a crash and covid, and this has been a huge inspiration. You'll finish for sure!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much Jake. Glad to hear you’re recovery is going well!

[@evigvandrare]

@@cilliankelly1 So awesome to see your reply Cillian. Wishing you all the best mate, I wish I had your sense of humour in the depths of suffering through those workouts. Your optimism and humour has been so motivating.

[@de4ds1ghtcsgo94]

When doing something like this it's more about willpower.

[@evanmclean4893]

Serious effort! I’ve just started cycling, I’m so slow and get overtaken by everyone out on the roads but to be honest there’s great views of the coast where I live so I just enjoy it & ride my own ride 🚴

[@gcn]

Keep going!

[@briancooper8063]

Cilian!! Hats off to you sir! That was one of the most inspiring rides I’ve seen in a long time. Way to dig deep!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much Brian! Really glad you enjoyed it 👍🏼

[@stelladavis7443]

Fantastic, great video, great effort on the climb. I have really enjoyed following the journey so far, you got this Killian!!!

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Super job Cillian! I was a stay at home 1/2 dad so I know the sacrifice you make! My 'kids'are now 34 and 32. You are my hero because you took on the challenge and still kept up the real life responsibilities!! Connor, I love how you have been cheering/ 'coaching ' Cillian! Amazing content! Amazing accomplishments! Well done!

[@cilliankelly1]

Wow, thanks so much. Really appreciate this. The Etape du Tour was last Sunday! Maybe I won't spoil the outcome for you before they make the GCN+ film on it...

[@reusserfarm1]

Way to co Cillian you crushed it !!!! I can’t wait to hear how your event goes. Loved the video as always and Ollie makes a great MC and cheering section !!!

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

What a performance by Cillian! Not just edge of my seat stuff but got me off my seat cheering!

[@dannyp5139]

Amazing effort Cillian, the commentary by Ollie at the end was like an Army drill Sergeant

[@normawingo5116]

Omg Killian, that’s amazing, 32 %. Keep going! That’s huge!!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks Norma!

[@neilwilliams3298]

Great work Cillian and great to see John in the background too

[@cilliankelly1]

Really great looking moobs in that final scene. That heart rate monitor strap does nothing for my figure.

[@joelecho]

Good luck in the event!

[@cilliankelly1]

@@joelecho Cheers Joel!

[@markmyers8775]

Great job, Cillian. I was cheering you on along with everyone else.

[@gcn]

Thank you!

[@cubatea]

That was brilliant. Well done mate. Good luck for the Etape. You are inspirational!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it

[@richards.4116]

All 3, outstanding presentation. The staff and crew put a lot into this. Great job and good luck. Inspiring

[@gcn]

Thank you!

[@cilliankelly1]

Nice one Richard. Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jabehauber]

Cillian, you are an inspiration to us all! Including those of us riders with extra beer and pub food weight wondering if we could ever do such a challenge. You are showing us it IS possible to do more and do it better! I feel like going out and riding!

[@cilliankelly1]

Fantastic! Great to hear. Go on! You can do it!

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Go champs go for it, supporters like me are pushing pedals from home next to you guys, cycling makes life worth living, keep up guys

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks Melania!

[@Hoolio1967]

Awesome job Cillian, especially that sprint at the end! I am SO proud of you!

[@gcn]

He's definitely making progress!

[@cilliankelly1]

Cheers James! So glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@edbrowne8106]

Superb effort Cillian. Best of luck on the Le’ tape Go you good thing!

[@magicknight8412]

That was superb, what a change and amazing effort. Gives me hope!

[@francodellamura7471]

Very well done to you both! Good luck in the etape Cilian.

[@tommylobotommy]

Looking much better! This is an inspiration. Good luck!

[@CreativeLivingProject]

Way to go Cillian!!! So great to watch this series. Bravo!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot. Should be a full length GCN+ film on the way soon

[@steixeirajr]

Fantastic! Well done, Cillian, you’ll do great at L’Étape, I’m sure

[@faster05]

Excellent effort Cillian, great video GCN

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bikecommuter24]

Cillian like the others said you got this 👍 I'm 60 with a touch of arthritis and I just started doing walking and running, I still get the doubts I can do a 5k Run race, I get those doubts I'm not in good enough shape to even finish, I know I'm not going to finish in under 20 minutes like the leaders but my last 5k this past Saturday I did a 37:01 and a big part of it was uphill, I also just started bicycling this past month, I had not had a lot of time on the bike but I'm working on it, I get a little better every day and thats on a heavy commuter 8 speed bicycle. two years ago I weighed 240lbs and walked with a cane, now I weigh 150lbs and put my cane away I'm working on joining the Century club losing 100 lbs. Cheers

[@cilliankelly1]

Wow! What a fantastic achievement! You should be really proud of that 💪🏼

[@Tomalyo]

Love it. Thank you for great motivational content and good luck with the Tour.

[@fundypaddlesurf]

Awesome, looking forward to seeing the Etape video. Hope it went well for ya

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks Terry! I'm still alive anyway 👍

[@SJPMs]

Wow...what a fantastic effort Cillian. Absoluetely incredible improvement.....much respect!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Cheers Steve!

[@Chimpy_Mc_Gibbon]

Amazing! I was screaming for you to win Cillian! I got more into that than the actual tour lol

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Thanks Nathan, glad you enjoyed it.

[@flamehairdisaster1]

Really inspiring! Thank you Cillian!

[@crhayes]

Amazing video. That was so upbeat and entertaining!

[@smccarthy1975]

Brilliant episode . Great work Cillian , remember to enjoy the trip to France

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks Sean! Glad you enjoyed it

[@bokehinfocus]

Congratulations, Cillian!!! That was AWESOME!!!

[@jamesap4752]

Well done Cillian super effort looking forward to seeing how you get on in the event 👏🏻

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot James! I'm looking forward to the GCN+ film as much as anyone now

[@joegamas1194]

What an absolute beast Cillian is…awesome, fantastic job Cillian and major props to the GCN support group, this goes to show you how couple of guys can really motivate you to go where you have never been gone before, awesome job everybody

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot Joe! Glad you enjoyed it. It is amazing the difference, psychologically, that a situation like that can induce. I never could have pushed myself that hard at home on my own.

[@joegamas1194]

@@cilliankelly1 indeed I enjoyed it and most importantly it motivated me even more to push my self, I honestly think that you’ve had in you all along physically and mentally, you just need it to be put in that kind of predicament, and now you know your an absolute beast no matter where you go or where you at, you just gotta reach deep inside and bring it out, great job buddy keep up the great job, best of luck on your next endeavor and know that you got this, go for it

[@nightsfalling]

This is a good resumen of all the work Cillian has put into this training. Good job and good luck! 👍

[@gcn]

He's improved massively!

[@Mouseend]

Wow what an beast! Incredible work, I think the Etappe will go great. Go Cillian!

[@gcn]

He made such a big improvement, we're all impressed

[@leeomurchu1213]

Well done Cillian savage effort. Good luck at L'Étape 💪🚲

[@dalehall7347]

Go on Cillian! Go well in L'Etape. Great effort put in, one last shift

[@Wolfman1250s]

Massive progress, well done 👍 You’re gonna smash it!

[@aidanmasterson50]

Doing the Wicklow 200 is an achievement in and of itself!

[@TheDamianvain17]

This was freaking amazing to watch! Way to go Cillian, you beast!

[@gcn]

Super impressive ride by him!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks so much!

[@hilaryking9993]

Thank you for being so inspirational. Well done

[@manuelmalagon210]

This was exciting and emotional! Good job!

[@CarolynB248]

Well done! looking forward to hearing about your experience! Luv ya work!

[@stephenmoore4651]

This has been brilliant. Well done Cillian.

[@gcn]

Thank you!

[@NYGiants4Life]

Great video. Motivates me to get back into cycling. I haven’t cycled in a year since moving back to NY from Ireland. I’m scared of going through a hard time again. It was so hard when I started, specially on hills. The worst part is that I’m 30 pounds overweight again too.

[@evigvandrare]

Man, I crashed my bike at the start of the year, then got covid which knocked me off the bike for maybe six months. It did suck going back in, but not as bad as the first time. Just start small, with a low training load and you'll be back in form in no time.

[@NYGiants4Life]

@@evigvandrare thanks 🙏. Really appreciate that. I put in an order for an indoor trainer to join zwift.

[@evigvandrare]

@@NYGiants4Life For what it's worth mate I haven't really lost any of the weight I stacked on through those few months either. 😂 I found the training programs like back to fitness on Systm and Zwift were a huge motivation, and having the trainer for me seperates those brutal training sessions from the my commuting and rides with friends so there's no burn out.

[@evigvandrare]

@@NYGiants4Life When you get Zwift, feel free to follow me/add me and we'll go for a spin! I end up riding with a lot of Americans in my early morning sessions.

[@jenniferw6081]

Well done Cillian. Best wishes for the big ride.

[@jamesrandles4725]

What a champion, should be super proud of that effort. Amazing.

[@proximityroars5149]

Great video, loved the end

[@chrisbaum998]

GCN - Maybe look into the new research about Heat Training vs Altitude Training. There seems to be some good results with Heat training to help with adjusting to altitude if you live in the flat lands around the world.

[@vanessa8282vr]

Cillian is the BOMB!!! This was both entertaining and informative thank you guys!!!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot Vanessa! Glad you enjoyed it

[@pathurley86]

Great video, best of luck Cillian!

[@paulcollingridge8387]

Spectacular! Well done both for the nail-biter

[@jennifercash1093]

Awesome effort Cillian! Try to enjoy the day itself! p.s love that when sitting on the GCN couch Connor's knees are near his ears, and Cillian's feet don't reach the floor!

[@cilliankelly1]

That wasn't even meant to be funny on purpose. It's just the way that couch is!

[@ncgc]

Awesome video gents. Great seeing you both dig so deep.

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ncgc]

@@cilliankelly1 loved it Cillian.

[@wahibisac5018]

great effort and outstanding team

[@1942rita]

Great work for both of you.

[@deanmc178]

what a test ,, and win for our new man ..well done

[@billcodey1430]

Good luck Cillian. You look good in that kit.

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot Bill! 🙌🏼

[@raff5604]

I know Cillian will do fantastic!!! We are cheering for you here in Toronto Canada!!!!! Up, Up, Up!!!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Thanks a lot Raff! Really appreciate it.

[@doncameelo]

This was soooo inspiring! That’s it, I’m jumping on my bike!

[@cilliankelly1]

Fantastic! Enjoy it!

[@titomon]

Great work, Cillian!!!!

[@CedricMelbourne]

Awesome series and good luck

[@stevemiell4555]

Huge respect Cillian!

[@bodhi47]

What an awesome performance! Well done 👍🏻

[@matt_acton-varian]

Go on Cilian! What a race, putting Connor to shame, he is not going to live that down. Beating a former elite national champ in a race is a mighty achievement, you can smash the Etape!

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Thanks a lot! I think I’m finally looking forward to it now.

[@mikecarter8832]

Amazing effort fro Cillian there. Also some of Connor’s comments has me in stitches “the hare chasing the fox”?! What was he on about 😂

[@tankbirdfinder6219]

I find it entertaining, even while Connor is pushing on the hill, .. He's making complete sentences and talking normally. I pant like a dog in August when I climb that thing on Zwift. Well done to both Connor and Cillian. I hope Cillian has an awesome ride and experience.

[@kakihara111]

Yeah...when you can still talk you are not pushing yourself. I do believe it for the Cillian though. That fear of everything cramping when getting off the bike is real and only happens when you go pretty deep.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

He's clearly sandbagging it. sub 4 w/kg performance for a former pro, don't think so.

[@chrisbaum998]

Great Improvement Cillian!! You got this!!!

[@gcn]

He's made great strides!

[@jimmyzhao2673]

More Training Montage please !!

[@stephanborman7902]

Good luck man. Well done!!!

[@cilliankelly1]

Ah cheers. Not long now!

[@davveedd]

That was brilliant lads 😆, we’ll done Cillian, that’s serious progress. We came out Tuesday and it was a very hot couple of days on the cols, keep the fluid and electrolytes up and watch the descents, you passed me on Shay Elliot decent on the WW200 in the most aggressive posture I saw all day, thought I was going backwards for a second. Bon chance.

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Aggressive posture was probably me just keeled over my handlebars struggling. The heat was a killer on Sunday, absolutely stifling.

[@davveedd]

Cillian Kelly 🤣 looked good either way. Yeah the heat was mental, did some pretty good suffering on the Croix de Fer, had a Magnum and coke (sadly both of the confectionary variety, otherwise this would have been a much more entertaining yarn) in Saint Sorlin that got me to Bourg, felt grand for 5 bends into the Alpe D’Huez and then came asunder, total carnage from then on, people getting sick over the crash barriers, people just grinding to stop and keeling over, passed out in the shade, paramedics, brilliant. Thought I had a sprint in me for the finish, took off at 450W, lasted all of 5 seconds then limped across the line at a hundred watts 🤣. Incredible event. Congratulations, huge achievement, same time next year.

[@lesliereissner4711]

Huge improvement, Cillian! You will have a great time in France.

[@cilliankelly1]

You were right!

[@seanhammon6639]

Cillian deserves a year of the finest Irish pints. Respect! Fucking great sport! Legend!

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Cheers Sean! 🍻

[@cdcaterham]

Actually shouting at my phone at the end! Brilliant!! 😁

[@peterslater7791]

great job, cillian! watching your progress is ultra-encouraging as it's "real world" stuff. keep up the great progress! what's your next goal?

[@cilliankelly1]

Ooof, I’ll get through this one first. Just about to get on a flight out to the Alps now! 👍🏼

[@peterslater7791]

@@cilliankelly1 you've got this!

[@chriscourtenay2311]

Brilliant. Great to see some “ordinary[“ people getting into cycling. Need more like it

[@gcn]

It's great to see

[@edwardmacdonald1858]

Cillian’s big effort at the end was gold!

[@ciaranLkelly]

As a fellow Irish C Kelly on Zwift it's inspiring to see!

[@cilliankelly1]

Haha! Nice one

[@ushio4210]

Amazing improvement Cillian!! you are great!

[@gcn]

We're all incredibly proud of him!

[@alexparker8355]

Good effort 160+ Hart rate all the way and looking composed you nailled it with a epic sprint at the end.

[@cilliankelly1]

Cheers Alex!

[@pirminborer625]

Wow way to go Kilian 👏. You got some serious power in those legs.

[@craiglindholm6338]

You are an inspiration to all of us. Keep it up!

[@cilliankelly1]

Cheers Craig!