Damien Shaw is no ordinary bike rider and his approach to stepping into the pro peloton is very refreshing (Photo: Shane Stokes)
By Shane Stokes
Heading into the pro bunch at 31 years of age, you’d understand if Damien Shaw was feeling a little intimidated by it all.
However, the national road race champion is remaining undaunted by his imminent debut with the An Post Chainreaction squad, saying the notion of squaring up against some of the big names and top teams in the sport isn’t something he is losing any sleep over.
His racing debut starts tomorrow, Wednesday, when the five-day Etoile de Bessèges rolls out of Bellegarde.
“I have never really been a fan of pro cycling, per se,” he said, explaining his level-headed approach at the recent team training camp in Calpe, Spain.
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“It is really only in the past year or so that I started watching the Tour. I kind of felt left out, that everyone would be talking about it and I wouldn’t have a clue.
“I wouldn’t be one for idolising too many people anyways.”
In Calpe the An Post Chainreaction team was staying in the same hotel as Katusha; the squad which includes last year’s Tour of Flanders winner Alexander Kristoff and former world number one Joaquim Rodriguez.
Shaw said seeing WorldTour riders there and out on the roads wasn’t something that would ratchet up his stress levels.
“I am judging someone off their merits, rather than what jersey they are wearing,” he explained.
“A lot of the reason I got out of Ireland was the predictable nature of it. You are going to race the same faces in the same races.
“This should change it up. You are going to have to go back to the basic principles of you don’t know anybody and you are going to have to judge them off their body language, whether they are swinging or not. That is what I am really looking forward to.”
Winning the elite national title in Omagh last June; it will be interesting to see how Shaw does against the pros, though he will need to be given time to settle in (Photo: Sean Rowe)
It’s akin to Greg LeMond’s old line about rivals having just two arms and two legs as well.
Former world number one Sean Kelly has a key role with the team and said Shaw’s relaxed nature is a strength.
Shaw has worked for three years as a fireman and he believes that this might explain his mentality.
“I am a relaxed type of guy. I think if I do get stressed about stuff, I go worse,” he said.
“Maybe the background of the fire station leads to that. If you are on edge, you will make a mistake. You have to be able to react and be ready to react.
“You have to be very adaptable, whether it is going to be a car accident or a fire or just a chimney file. You just have to roll with it.”
“I’m not that old in bike terms”
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Shaw is 31 years of age and is stepping up to Continental level older than many other riders.
However, he’s not too worried. He’s improved year on year since taking up the sport in 2006, and last season finished second, second and third on stages of the An Post Rás and then won the national road race championships.
Since then he’s stepped back from his job as a fireman and has been focussing fully on the opportunity presented to him by An Post Chainreaction.
He sees some merits in going international at this point.
“I think I could have done it earlier,” he said, “but I think I would have been used up and spat out.
“Not only physically but mentally as well. You learn a good bit from being around the scene, picking up from small things that go on. For example, how to deal with people.
“You learn how to read personalities and stuff. I might be old in age terms, but I am not that old in bike terms.”
Riding in the middle of the An Post-ChainReaction training group at the recent warm weather camp in Spain. Sean Kelly says he has been really impressed with Shaw’s power and his relaxed approach (Photo: AnPost-ChainReaction.com)
There is another factor too; while many riders peak in their late twenties, there is reason to believe that he will hit his own top form in the years ahead.
As he’s only been racing on a bike for a handful of years, it’s likely that his best condition is still ahead of him.
“I met Sean Kelly a few years ago and discussed joining the team then. Sean said it takes seven years after you start really taking your training seriously [to hit your peak].
“For me I am probably five years training at a decent level.”
Shaw had time off the bike in July due to a fractured collarbone, and later had to have an operation on the area towards the end of November.
Other than that, he has been training well and is happy with how things have gone.
“I do a lot of structured indoor training. I use a Wattbike and I kinda know where I am compared to previous years,” he said.
“I am probably ahead, without trying overly hard. I lost a bit of weight naturally.
“I did a big block of training from having time off work. Before the worlds there were rumours that I might be picked, and so I did a load of long distance spins. I think that stood to me.
“I took a few weeks off into November when I had the operation. Within a week of coming back I was out here and going as well as any of them. The same this week, there are no issues with fitness.”
He will find out very soon how he compares to the bigger names of pro racing, when the five-day Etoile de Bessèges gets underway.
“I don’t think I’d have too many problems fitness-wise,” he said, continuing the no-stress approach. “But finding myself going around a bunch of 150 similar-level guys will probably be the biggest learning thing for me.
“I could be out the back, or I could be off the front. I won’t know until I go there.”
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