Fintan Ryan was a clear winner of the A3 event in Navan on Sunday. He's hoping for plenty more strong riders towards his goal of representing Ireland at the Euros or Worlds this year (Photo: Sean Rowe)
National junior road race champion, Fintan Ryan is clearly in good form after a stint of racing and training on the track in Holland, having taken victory in the A3 event at the Cycleways Cup in Navan on Sunday.
In that event he got away on his own in the latter stages and had the legs to survive to take the win ahead of some hot and heavy attacking in the group just behind.
The 17-year-old second year junior will once again ride for the Nicolas Roche Performance Team as one of the squad’s leading riders.
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From Bray in Co Wicklow, he said he wants to step up his game in 2014 to give himself a shot at making an Irish team, be it for the Europeans or Worlds.
The former Sorrento CC man was overlooked for both last year but insists it is not something he has dwelled on.
“I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed at missing out on national selection,” he said of last year.
“But someone has to be and I'm sure others were in the same boat as me. You have to respect their decision. This year is another year so I'm ready to have another go at it.”
Never having been to even spectate at a Worlds, he said he would love to make it this year. And under the watchful eye of his father and coach Aidan Ryan – himself a former multi national track champion and international rider – he approaches the task of gaining selection with optimism.
“I think I have what it takes to be there,” he says.
“I'll be more sure of it closer to the time but I trust my dad to make me the best rider I can be. So missing a major Champs now is no big deal to me. That's not saying I wouldn't love to be there; it's a main goal for me this year.”
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Like every other junior in the hunt, his selection or otherwise will depend on his results in major domestic events.
“There are the main races that everyone aims for like the Gorey Three Day and Junior Tour,” he says of the goals ahead.
“I‘d like to do well those as well as try and defend the races I won throughout last year. Gaining experience of foreign racing will also be something I’m looking to do, hopefully with both the Irish set-up and our own team set-up.”
Having taken the Leinster junior scratch race title on the track and silver in the 500m TT, he also won the Duane Delaney Memorial and took bronze in the national 1km TT and silver in the sprint.
Those results suggest he has inherited his father’s ability on the track.
“You can see how the British go about developing riders and the track is where great riders are made,” he said.
“My main focus will be the road but I love both. The bigger number of road races makes it so much easier to do and enjoy and you have the craic of riding with a team. The new faces in the team this year will really bring us all on.”
The quiet achiever of the current crop of strong juniors, Fintan Ryan's natural ability, race smarts and constant progression make him one to watch over the coming season and beyond (Photo: www.blackumbrella.ie)
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