Damien Shaw is hopeful foreign racing can give him the extra edge required to close in on that elusive Rás stage win; seen here on the right with Dan Martin trying to bridge to the breakaway at the National Road Championships in Westmeath in June (Photo by George Doyle)
By Brian Canty
Aquablue rider Damien Shaw says he wants to “push on” next year and press hard for that elusive stage win at the An Post Rás.
The Mullingar-based fireman has been one of the strongest riders in the country for the past three seasons.
And he believes with a harder block of racing before the country’s showpiece race in May he can really go close to achieving what very few county men have done.
“We’re hoping to get to a few races in France or England,” said Shaw of the Cork-based squad’s plans for early next year.
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“That’s something I’d like to do; maybe a Premier Calendar race or two, even if it’s to go over there or to France and get opened up for a while. I do like to test myself a bit more.
"The Rás this year; I liked it and I’d be hoping to push on again next year. The first year I did it I was floating around the bunch, just figuring out what to do.
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In Rás mode last year; Shaw has steadily improved in the event since taking a more serious approach to racing in recent seasons (Photo: Gary McIlroy)
“This year I was a bit more clued-in and was able to get up the road and hopefully next year I’d like to be able to influence things,” he added.
Shaw went closest to winning a stage of this year’s Rás on the 154km third leg from Lisdoonvarna to Charleville.
However, he had to settle for fourth from a day-long break, though he would take home the county rider prize that day ahead of Banbridge CC man Roger Aiken, who was also in the escape.
“I think with a bit more harder racing in my legs I could have won a stage,” Shaw said of the race back in May.
“What I missed this year was an attack; everything was long range riding away. And I ended up winning but I needed to be pushed more.
“I didn’t really get that so that’s the big thing for next year; maybe a block of hard racing before I do the Rás.”
Shaw on the podium to receive his county rider award during the Rás back in May. Next year he says he'll push all out again for a stage win.
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