Sean Downey gave a good account of himself on Sunday and said he was surprised at the way he held position near the front of the bunch on the climbs in what was a world class field.
After going on the attack in the early exchanges at the near 200km-long Belgian semi classic Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne on Sunday, Sean Downey said he was happy with his performance.
The An Post-Chainreaction man has been part of the Irish team pursuit line-up on the track in recent months meaning it was unclear how his body would react to such a long first road race outing of 2015.
However, the Banbridge man said he was pleasantly surprised with his form in a race where he finished 30th in the peloton of 70 riders that remained after a tough day on some short, sharp climbs.
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“I was pretty happy to get the road season started and very happy with my performance after a winter on the track,” he said.
“Kuurne would be the biggest classic race we do of the year and it’s a very demanding course; lots of steep climbs and cobbles.
“It’s not really my style but I was very motivated to do a good race and get my season started well.”
On the attack in the early stages of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne with former world champion Philippe Gilbert on his wheel (Photo: Lydia Van de Meerssche)
He said the team’s goal for the race was to get a man in the early breakaway.
And though Downey pulled clear in a promising move just after the start alongside former world champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing), that escape was recaptured.
But one of his Belgian team mates, Xandro Meurisse, was in the early escape when it finally went clear and stayed away for much of the race.
“The start of the race it was all about following the moves and trying to get away,” said Downey.
“I got into a few groups but they never stuck the pace was so high. Eventfully when a group went, with my team mate in it the pressure was off and we could relax a bit.
“I could recover then and get ready for the hard part of the race.”
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Downey held his place well at the head of the bunch as the climbs and cobbles saw the group get smaller and smaller (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)
Downey said the real racing, with the field hitting the cobbles and climbs, started after around 90km.
“Coming into the first climb it was a fight to be at the front,” he said.
“I was in the top 25 to 30 going over the first climb; it was nice to get over it with no trouble.
“After that, climbs came pretty quick but by starting at the front I was able to stay there.
“The bunch was getting smaller and smaller I was very surprised how I was riding and mixing it up there with all the top men."
Downey rode strongly abroad last year and on home roads took silver at the national championships, above, and was 6th overall in the An Post Rás (Photo: George Doyle)
Downey said while the peloton got very small at times, groups came back up; swelling numbers in the bunch.
He looked around a saw a number of sprinters still there and said once the breakaway, containing compatriot Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18), was caught he knew it would be a bunch sprint.
“On the last lap (of the finishing circuit) my legs were getting quite heavy,” he said.
“My endurance still needs a little work. But I got 30th; it was nothing special but it was a solid ride all day.
“Overall I’d a good day and it’s a good starting block for the season ahead.”
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