When Bike Racing Turned Violent: Ireland’s Hidden Cycling War With Mick Cussack

Apply to join our Not Done Yet coaching program at Applying only takes about 90 seconds! Anthony sits down with Mick Cusack to explore one of the most turbulent and little-understood chapters in Irish sporting history. Mick recounts a time when Irish cycling was deeply divided—marked by sabotage, bitter rivalries, and even violence that spilled onto racecourses and international stages. As a rider who lived through this era and competed alongside legends like Stephen Roche, Mick offers a firsthand perspective on what he describes as a “sporting civil war” that lasted decades. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the chaos, politics, and personalities that shaped Irish cycling and left a lasting legacy on the sport. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Parlee Cycles ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Whether it's a tough day, a gruelling training session, an epic road trip or sitting on the side of the road, exhausted and wondering how you'll get to the top... The answer is regularly to just get back in the saddle and ride. Ride The F...ing Bike. RTFB!" Go check out their amazing bikes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 4Endurance ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pro level fuel, made accessible. Myself and Sarah trust 4Endurance for all our fuelling needs. Their reange is HUGE and won't break the bank. Go check them out here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BIKMO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bikmo protects you and your bike fromtheft, accidental damage, race-day disasters, and even baggage claim shenanigans. Your helmet, GPS, and other kit are covered too. Got more than one bike? Of course you do – you get 50% off each extra bike on the same policy. Protect your ride before it’s too late – head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bikmo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get covered.

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When Bike Racing Turned Violent: Ireland’s Hidden Cycling War With Mick Cussack is an episode from A1 Coaching by The Roadman Podcast.

This episode is 01:22:52 long.

This episode was published on Apr 23, 2026.

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