Sean Downey put in a great ride in Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games but was prevented by forces outside his control from coverting it into a strong final result.
By Brian Canty
Sean Downey has spoken about his deep disappointment at having been pulled off the course with just one lap to go in the Commonwealth Games elite men’s road race on Sunday in Glasgow.
The An Post Chainreaction rider, from Banbridge and competing for Northern Ireland, was heading for what would have been an exceptional 13th place in appalling conditions when the race organisers stopped him as he was about to take the bell.
There were just 12 finishers on the day, meaning Downey was very unlucky to be pulled out under a rule in cycling that sees riders who fall too far behind in circuit races stopped from riding around.
Advertisement
“I’m just going through all the emotions here; I’m annoyed and frustrated and just disappointed,” he told stickybottle.
“I wish they would have allowed me finish the race. I don’t know why they didn’t; I was going through the start-finish area and I saw a guy standing with his arms in the air in the middle of the road, directing me into the side.
“I should have just rode around him but I did what I was told. I was expecting a finishing place but I got the result and saw DNF and was so annoyed,” he explained.
“I made the effort to ride around a few laps by myself, and I just thought ‘why didn’t he let me do another lap’? I would have only been on the course another 20 minutes…”
Downey ploughs on alone after a David Millar mechanical created a gap that took a lot out of him to close.
Despite that, Downey enjoyed the occasion and the wall of noise that greeted him every lap was something that will never leave him, he said.
Related News
“Every lap, the course was so noisy, my ears were sore from the noise and you couldn’t hear a thing in the bunch, it was unbelievable; the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at a race.
“And it was a really, really bad day and to see those crowds was fantastic. You only notice how loud it is afterwards. My mum and dad and girlfriend were there and all the Banbridge crew and all Northern Irish people, it was special.”
Clearly in great form, Downey explained how he could have possibly finished – and maybe bagged a top 10.
“It was a good field and I was happy to be in there with the big names. But David Millar’s chain jammed and I was behind him; a big gap opened and my instinct was to get around him and close the gap.
“It was a big gap so I put in a big effort to bridge it; I caught them at the bottom of the climb and they raced up it and that’s where I lost contact. Maybe if I didn’t have to make that effort I’d have gotten back on…who knows.
“You can’t dwell on it,” he continued.
“I rode the hardest I could and that’s how it went. I’ve the Ride London Prudential Classic this weekend and I’ve put in a lot of work in.
“So hopefully I can get a good end of year and get a higher-ranked team, and do what Sam (Bennett) done last year and move up the ranks.
“The team has gotten confirmation that we’ll ride the Tour of Britain so the programme for the next while is good. Then hopefully the World Championships if we can qualify five riders I think I’ll be in with a chance of making that team.”
Topics
