With the help of his current team, his agent and hopefully with some good results Felix English is looking to climb higher in the pro game during the coming season. Pictured winning the Milk Race pro criterium in Nottingham last year (Photo: Andy Whitehouse)
By Brian Canty
Former national criterium champion, Felix English is back in Australia for the third year; training and racing ahead of what he hopes will be a much better season than the one he just put down.
The 22-year-old Brighton-born Irishman had a torrid 2014 campaign after breaking his hand twice.
More recently his winter training plans suffered a real setback when he was knocked off his bike.
“I’m not too bad now,” he said of his condition after a tough time.
“It took me a good seven weeks after breaking my hand the second time to get back on the bike.
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"Then I got hit by a car three weeks ago and that was another little unnecessary setback. But I'm on track and injury-free now. Mentally I'm in a good place too.”
Wearing team yellow at the Tour Series last year; English has the speed and power to make these races his own.
While sidelined and then training in his own to regain condition as his Condor JLT team mates were off racing he said he struggled.
"After a few kicks up the arse from a couple good friends I'm really motivated for next season now,” he said.
English is currently in the city of Bendigo near Melbourne and basking in scorching temperatures. He’ll be there until the end of February with a packed agenda.
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“I've got a couple of small kermesse type races and crits in Melbourne coming up,” he said.
“Then we’ll be kicking 2015 off with the Bay Crit Series in Geelong. And that we have the Herald Sun Tour and I think Cadel Evans' new race,” he said referring to the former Tour de France winner’s new Great Ocean Road Race on January 31st.
After wrapping up their tradition stint in Australia before the European season gets up and running English and his mates are hoping to rode the Tour de Langkawi as they make their way back to the UK.
And after riding very well in Australia last year, he has his eyes firmly fixed on getting his first win of the season out there.
Racing the criterium scene in Australia two years ago; English has developed hugely since taking the Irish crown and is hopeful of a winning start to 2015.
“Last year was my first competitive year in the Bay Crits and my first year riding the Sun Tour,” he said of the events were had bagged several podium places.
“So hopefully the experience gained from that and being a year stronger will land me with at least one win.”
He believed his squad would once again be very strong in the Premier Calendar road races and Tour Series criteriums in the UK, with English having emerged as one of the UK scene’s best criterium riders in recent seasons.
"Internationally our biggest rider was Hugh Carthy but he’s gone to Caja Rural (in Spain).
“It's hard to replace his kind of talent but I think myself and other guys in the team can step up and keep our winning ways going; if we manage to avoid breaking bones.
“Twelve months from now I need to make the step up to Pro Continental or World Tour,” he added of his personal goals.
“With the help of the team and my agent (Baden Cooke) I know it's possible, I just need to string together some consistent results.”
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