Peter Doyle

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Peter Doyle was one of the best amateur cyclists in Ireland. Doyle began his career winning several races in Ireland before having his best results in 1968. He started off by winning the road race at the national championships before becoming the first Irishman to win the Tour of Ireland. He continued his success across the Irish Sea, winning two stages of the Milk Race in England, along with winning both the king of the mountains and the points classifications. He then replicated the latter classification wins north of the border at the Tour of Scotland. That same year Doyle also represented Ireland in the individual road race at the Mexico City Olympics, but did not finish the course.

With an impressive list of victories Doyle was offered professional contracts, but he always declined them. For part of 1969 he represented the French amateur team Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune, winning the Essor Breton stage race. He continued to have further success at both the Milk Race and the Tour of Scotland, winning multiple stages during the 1970s. Back in Ireland he became the amateur individual time trial champion in 1972. Later that same year he also competed at the München Olympics, finishing the road race just over two minutes behind the race winner in a large peloton of riders.

Doyle racked up dozens of race wins in Ireland, including the 1974 edition of the Rás Tailteann, one of the most prestigious stage races in the country. Two years later he once again became the Irish amateur individual time trial champion before retiring shortly thereafter. In 2019 Doyle was inducted into the Cycling Ireland Hall of Fame.