Ryan Reilly said the collapse of the Dynamo Cover team has been hugely disappointing but he was determined to keep studying and racing.
By Brian Canty
The first rider to speak publicly about the collapse of the mooted Dynamo Cover Continental team, Ryan Reilly has said the fact he will focus on university rather than full time cycling for now is perhaps not a bad outcome.
He added the team collapsing so quickly and leaving a lot of people stranded, with those affected having no control over the situation, highlighted the need for young riders to have a back-up plan outside of cycling.
The emerging Derry rider may have plenty of years ahead of him in the sport but said he was struck how quickly a dream scenario of securing a place with a Continental team could turn to a nightmare.
Advertisement
- Lavery launches funding appeal after “rug pulled from under us”
- Five Irish riders devastated as Team Dynamo Cover collapses
- Irish teenager Reilly to combine college with new pro contract
Reilly, who has ridden for Foyle CC at home and competed in France for much of 2015, said he was still digesting the sense of lost opportunity associated with believing he had a place on a UCI-ranked team only for it to disappear.
“It was disappointing, what happened, because I was looking forward to getting stuck into some of the bigger races,” he said.
“But, on reflection, maybe this is better for me to get another year of university out of the way without the added pressure of trying to get results in cycling.
“It was a huge blow for us all but this is why it's important for younger riders coming up through the ranks like myself to have some sort of fall-back option like a degree before jumping into anything.
Related News
“With professional sport, nothing is ever certain. And there are far more people in worse scenarios than me.
“I've got a degree in physiotherapy to study for so I'm not stuck in a complete mess.”
Dynamo Cover was to be registered in Ireland in 2016 and had signed five Irish riders.
With Reilly were Philip Lavery, brothers Sean and Mark Downey and Mark Dowling.
Lavery, Dowling and Mark Downey are all expected to race next year as planned.
However, Sean Downey had brought his international racing career with An Post-Chainreaction to a close in the summer and only decided to continue next year when Dynamo Cover offered him a place.
It is unclear if he has any firm plans in place for the coming season.
Lavery has launched a crowd funding appeal to assist with the costs of racing next year and Dowling is currently training in Lanzarote.
Mark Downey is on the look-out for a team for next year.
Topics
