Conor Dunne is gunning for a good ride at the National Champs despite a recent fractured elbow (www.blackumbrellaphotography.com)
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By Shane Stokes
Injured in a fall four days after he won the opening stage of the An Post Rás last month, Conor Dunne has confirmed that he will be able to take part in both of the events he is eligible to enter in this week’s National Championships.
Despite a disrupted schedule, he is ambitious about his chances and believes a medal could still be possible.
“I managed to recover quite well in the end,” the Belgium-based Irishman told stickybottle.
“I’m still getting pain from the elbow but not enough to impact on riding too much.”
Dunne outsprinted British rider Michael Northey (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) into Longford on day one of the An Post Rás, taking the first yellow jersey in the race.
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He slipped back on day two but despite the time lost when he was isolated then, was a solid 22nd overall heading into stage five. However his ambition of chasing another big result was dashed when he hit the deck approximately ten kilometres from the line.
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He was forced to drop out of the race and told to play things safe by doctors due to a fractured elbow he suffered.
However he told stickybottle on May 31st that he was able to get back on the bike.
“I had follow-up X-rays and they confirmed I've got a small fracture on the radius of my elbow,” he said then.
“It’s pretty small though and the doctors said it was ok to train on it and move it about. Just no racing for the next two to three weeks and have to be careful with it.”
Now, just over a fortnight later, he confirms that things have been going well.
“I got some okay training in the last two weeks and felt ok enough to squeeze in two kermesse races towards the end of that block which I spent in Belgium. I got fifth and eighth in them so I'm hoping the form won't be too bad for the Nationals this week.”
Dunne won the under 23 men’s time trial in last year’s championships and despite the disruption to his schedule, is hopeful he can challenge once again.
“It’s kind of felt like quite a rushed preparation but I'm going to give it my best shot,” he said.
“The goal for the TT is to go as hard as I can – I will give defending last year’s jersey my best shot. And in the road race, I’d love to have the legs to mix it up – we’ll see!”
After that, he will head back to the Continent and continue building his condition.
“I’ve got a good programme of races in the three weeks after the Nationals in Belgium and France. Then I’ll do the Europeans at the end of July. I've got a good period of opportunities for myself which I'm hoping I can capitalize on…”
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