Cael Coen on his way to second place in the Junior Tour of Ireland opening time trial last night, his first result of the season (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
Cale Coen has said he was in shock after he finished a brilliant second in last night’s opening stage of the Junior Tour of Ireland, some 10 seconds off stage winner and the first yellow jersey wearer of this year's race, Michael O'Loughlin.
Coen, who sat his Leaving Cert just a few weeks ago, said he doesn't know where the result came from as he has done less training this year compared to last season.
But he is now setting his sights on a top 10 overall.
"I'm very happy, that was a good result," the Castlebar CC man said.
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"I don't do any time-trialling aside from the club league, so I was very shocked to beat Dylan O'Brien and Eddie Dunbar.
“I was eighth rider off tonight so I was waiting around all evening. But it was amazing when I heard I was second. I totally didn't see it coming.”
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With his tail up now, he hopes he can chase a stage win, but for now the focus is on the general classification.
"I'll see how I get on in the next day or two, I'll try for GC but if that doesn't work out I'll go for a stage,” he told stickybottle.
“I'll just sit in the next day or two and see how it goes. Last year I wasn't fit enough to be up the road with the boys, and I don't have as much training done as last year so I don't know where the result came from tonight," he said, clearly still stunned.
"But I don't want to get too carried away, I'll take it as it comes. To stay in the top 10 would be great, I'd like another high placing and maybe a stage.
"I've no results at all this year, not one," he continued.
"This was my only one. I caught two lads during it, I didn't know how I was going but I caught two guys so I knew I must have done okay."
As regards picking an overall winner, he said defending champion Dunbar is the man to beat.
"It'll be hard to see past him, there's a lot of eyes on him so it'll be difficult for him but we'll see how it goes."
- Stage winner and yellow jersey, Michael O'Loughlin could not be contacted for interview. But we'll hopefully catch up with him and the others in the Irish camp in coming days.
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