English enjoyed his win in Boroughshane at the ‘P&O Tour of the North’ in April (Photo: Darren Crawford)
Irish road and track international, Felix English will once again ride with UK-based Continental team Rapha Condor-Sharp in 2013, having just extended his contract for another year.
Still an U23 rider, English told stickybottle he was hoping to be in good shape right through to the European and World Championships in the latter months of next season. He said aspects of the past year had represented a learning curve for him. However, he felt he had also ridden well during the season and believes he can progress next year.
He will be joined on the UK-based team by fellow Irish international Aaron Buggle who stickybottle revealed last week has just signed with them.
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“I started back training a couple of weeks ago after having most of September off,” English told stickybottle.
The National Criterium Champion added he had stints of warm weather training lined up for a couple of weeks in the middle of next month and again in December.
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“Then we have team training camps over January and February so I’ve a nice busy winter to look forward to.”
“For 2013 I haven't set any specific goals as yet, but I definitely need to step up from this year. I think I need to be looking at top five stage placings in UCI 2.2 races like the Rás and also hopefully break into the top 10 in the Premier Calendars. I’m hoping for a smooth, illness-free and injury-free, winter and we'll see where I end up come March.”
He added that overall he felt he could take a lot from his first season with Rapha Condor-Sharp.
“It was definitely a step up from my first year in the senior ranks but I think I adapted to it OK. I learnt a lot from John (Herety) but also learnt a lot from my team mates. I started off the season well with 10th in the first stage of the Tour de Taiwan (UCI 2.1) and winning the final stage in the Tour of the North and getting 6th in the Eddie Soens Memorial.”
“The big shock of the year for me was when I was introduced into the crit team. Wow, those things are fast! I don't think I finished one for the first month. Again, getting some helpful tips from my more experienced team mates – Deano (Downing), Jimmy (McCallum), Kristian (House) and Ben G (Grenda) - really helped and I was eventually able to finish and actually help the team get a result.”
“I suffered in the last six weeks of the season and it’s something I need to address for next year so hopefully I can be in good shape come the Europeans and World Championships.”
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