Peter Crinnion became the first Bray Wheeler to win the famed Shay Elliott Memorial, when he won the second edition of the race in 1959. He began his ascent to greatness the following year, 1960, when he won the Irish National Championships and then became one of the pioneering Irish road racing professionals when he joined the French Margnat-Rochet team in 1961.

The following year, as an U23 professional living in France he had a number of strong placings, which included winning the Route de France overall. Over the course of his career he raced for a number of teams as a pro:

1961  Margnat – Rochet – Dunlop (France)

1962 Urago – Pestrin (France)

1963 Margnat – Paloma – Dunlop (France)

1964 Saint-Raphael – Gitane – Dunlop (France)

1964 Margnat – Paloma – Dunlop (France)

1965 Lamont – Libertas (Belgium)

1966 Cuenod (Great Britain)