Conn McDunphy has expressed a keen interest in stepping up to the Irish team for the elite men's road race at the European Championships this weekend. If given the chance, he would fill the slot on the team now vacant after Sam Bennett withdrew from the line-up.
McDunphy, a Lucan CRC rider who was reserve for the Worlds in Glasgow, told stickybottle he had continued to race in Belgium in recent weeks, and will do so again in the next few days. And while he has been racing largely on the domestic scene this season, he says he is going better than ever.
He rode three kermesses the week before last, taking top 10s but mostly aiming for the primes and winning €700. This week he has plans to race in Belgium on Wednesday and Thursday, meaning he would be "only a drive away from Drenthe" where the Europeans road race takes place on Sunday.
Advertisement
He has also won some of the hardest races on the domestic scene this year, including the Shay Elliott Classic. He claimed two rounds of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series – the Meath Grand Prix and John Drumm Cup – on his way to overall victory in the series.
"I'm going well and I've ridden Ronde van Drenthe twice, on the same course the Europeans will be on," he said. "I also rode the Europeans two years ago on the team with Bennett, Mullen and Teggart, so I've done this before."
Related News
McDunphy (26) lodged an expression of interest with Cycling Ireland in the period before the Europeans, though the federation told him it was focusing on riders racing abroad. While he said there was some logic in that approach, he still believed he would do a job for the team this Sunday and was very clear he remains in really strong form though the season is nearly over.
In the absence of Bennett - who would have been team leader at the Europeans but is out due to a bout of illness - the Irish team is comprised of Ryan Mullen, Rory Townsend and Dillon Corkery. McDunphy, a former Irish elite TT champion, believes if he was added to the line-up, he could contribute to the team effort on the day.
"I'm under no illusion, it's going to be a savage race," he said. "But we have six spots qualified, thanks to our world class pros. I'd be delighted to ride it. And I've raced the Europeans before, in 2021. And this year I'm going better than I ever have and I'd be absolutely honoured to ride for the team."
As well as Bennett being forced out of the Europeans due to illness, Erin Creighton is also out of the U23 women's road race due to crash injuries she sustained at the recent Rás na mBan.
While Megan Armitage has also been forced to withdraw from the elite women's road race - due to a recent interrupted racing programme following concussion - she has been replaced in the team by Fiona Mangan. As of yet, Cycling Ireland have not announced any plans to replace Bennett or Creighton.
