Connor McConvey, left, is back where it all started for him at An Post Chain Reaction. Six years after joining the team as a fresh-faced 21 year-old, he is now one of the most experienced members of the squad.
By Brian Canty
Four years after leaving the team, Connor McConvey has tonight been unveiled as An Post Chain Reaction rider before a packed audience at the team’s official launch in Calpe, southeast Spain.
The 27 year-old spent three seasons with the team from 2010-12 but departed at the end of the latter to join Synergy-Baku Cycling project where he spent the next two years.
And when that came to an end he joined Team 3M for 2015, though that never amounted to any more than a year in a squad he never looked or felt at home.
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The same cannot be said for where he is now - surrounded by fellow Irishmen in an Irish team where he’ll be looked upon as one of the real leaders.
“In a way it doesn’t feel like I’ve been away at all,” he said.
“In a way it feels like I’m just coming back to the same set-up I left in 2012.
“You normally have a period of adaptation when you go into any other team but in this one, almost all the riders are new but it’s still a case of slotting straight back in and it’s great.”
The team for this year features seven home-based men.
They are; national road race champion Damien Shaw, Cycling Ireland’s highest-ranked rider from 2015 Sean McKenna, Angus Fyffe, Daniel Stewart, Jack Wilson and David Montgomery.
“I knew the Irish guys from back home but also a couple of the Belgians too because I’ve been teammates with them before and I’ve raced with them,” he added.
“So there’s not a lot of new acquaintances to be made and that’s a big plus as well; how you can go straight in and be yourself.”
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At this stage of his career, McConvey knows time is pushing on if he is to make a career out of the sport.
But being back in An Post Chain Reaction, he knows he has everything he needs to move up to the next level.
“At my age, you’re a bit more experienced and you know you’ve a job to do and people know what you can do.
“I know what’s expected of me so basically, I just gotta perform now, do my job for the team and get results.
“Some of that pressure has come from the team and some has come from myself.
“I just have to be at the level for the season and the pressure comes from myself to do what needs to be done.
“The biggest thing is being consistent all year and I think that comes with a bit of experience.”
He’s an unconfirmed starter for Etoile de Bességes (2.1) which gets underway on Sunday week but after that, his programme is not yet definite.
“I’ve still gotta prove myself but I wanna be at the level where I can ride all the good races and take the opportunities.
“It’s all been very smooth all winter. I started training a bit earlier and I’ve had no real hiccups.
“You’re always a bit unsure and you never know until you turn a pedal in anger but in terms of training it’s all looking relatively good.
“I just have to do something in the races now!”
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