Conn McDunphy has said he expects tomorrow’s men’s road race at the European Road Championships in Italy to be a “savage” encounter, on what will be his elite debut for Ireland.
While the Irish TT champion rode the Europeans time
trial, along with Ryan Mullen, last week in Trento he has never competed for
Ireland in an elite road race.
The 24-year-old has represented Ireland many times, but
at U23 level – including the TT and road race at the Worlds and Europeans, and
the UCI Nations Cup.
Having started out with Lucan CRC in Co Dublin, he has been racing in France with CC Nogent-sur-Oise for the last couple of years. In recent weeks he stepped up to UCI Continental level with Irish team EvoPro Racing. And now making his elite debut at these Europeans adds to a strong season for him in 2021.
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“Going into (tomorrow’s
road race) I don't know what to expect but I know the form is good. So I will try to help the guys and go from
there,” he said, adding the racing would be “savage”, with the elite men doing 179.2km.
The title race will start in Valle dei Laghi and do a 73km loop before going onto the same 13.2km circuit used in the other races at the Euros - for eight laps of action with the 3.2km climb each time.
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“It’s going to be something else, very hilly, very hard,” said McDunphy. “It’s going to be more of an elimination really - obviously with the top guys, best in the world are here," he said.
Also in the Irish team are Sam Bennett, Ryan Mullen and Matt Teggart. McDunphy described riding for Ireland last Wednesday in the TT as “an honour”, coming as it does during his year as Irish TT champion.
“My main goal
was to enjoy myself. That's when I do
my best,” he said of the TT. “I
overcooked myself into the headwind, I thought it was stronger than it actually
was so I struggled on the way back in.
“It’s encouraging, though, for the time
trials to come as I know I judged it wrong yet I wasn't far off proven testers
at this level,” he said of his 29th
placed finish.
He was 2:42 off
winner Stefan Küng, the Swiss rider
who retained the European title. Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar
(Slovenia) went around the course 1:21 faster than McDunphy.
“Had I judged it properly I could have gone a nearly
minute faster I reckon having studied my performance after,” McDunphy said. “But that comes down to experience and
learning to manage the adrenaline and enthusiasm you get when representing your country.”
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