Damien Shaw, left, says when riders like Dan Martin, right, don't ride the National Road Race Championships, the title showdown loses prestige. However, he believed their absence makes it more exciting for home-based riders (Photo: Georg Doyle)
By Brian Canty
Damien Shaw believes there is no reason why a home-based riders cannot win the National Road Race Championships on Sunday week.
Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18), Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin) and Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) have all opted not to ride due to the proximity of the Tour de France a week later.
Philip Deignan of Team Sky is also not expected to take part whether he rides the Tour or not.
Mullingar fireman Shaw thinks a home-based rider could win; something that has not been done for many years.
“It doesn’t become the same nationals as people are expecting with the likes of Roche and Dan out,” he said.
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“Every year it loses a bit of prestige with the likes of those guys not in it. But it makes it more exciting for the amateur guys. But you’d still want them in it
“I used to run before I took up cycling and just because you won an All-Ireland didn’t mean you were the best runner if everyone isn’t there.
Shaw winning in Kilkenny three weeks ago; his first victory since finishing on the podium on the last three stages of the An Post Rás (Photo: John Coleman – Dc Images)
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“It’s great to see them there but it leaves the field wide open when they’re not.
“Maybe the favourites’ tag falls to the guys in the next tier down, the Continental lads with An Post Chainreaction and whoever else.
“There’s nothing to say we (domestic riders) can’t mix it with those guys.”
Shaw was third in 2013 when he escaped with eventual winner Matt Brammeier, then of Champion System, and a flying Philip Lavery, who took second in the colours of AC Bisontine.
He is unsure if he can medal again but he didn't go up to check out the course in Omagh recently for nothing.
“Obviously the likes of the An Post Chainreaction lads are racing at a higher level every week than we are and they can turn it on but maybe that becomes a bit repetitive for some of them?
“We have two big ones every year in the Rás and the Nationals and we can really up our games for those; you see guys find an extra gear.
“So if racing is monotonous you don’t get that same good buzz. You maybe don’t go outside your comfort zones and go as deep as you need to.
“But that’s what we have to do to get a result so we’ll see. The national championships are one big day where everyone wants that end result.”
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