Conor Hennebry has bullied his way into the Irish development team this year and while he wants to race abroad, he has a brutally honest attitude to the challenges such a move would pose (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Conor Hennebry is a rider whose stock has risen quite substantially this season; from relative anonymity to the Irish development team.
And he says it’s even taken him by surprise.
The 22-year-old Carrick Wheelers man has had a string of high-quality placings this year.
And of all the men who’ve gone to the line with the in-form Páidí O’Brien, Hennebry perhaps looks the most likely to beat him.
Riding for the Irish Development Team at Kerry Group Rás Mumhan (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
“At the moment the question on everyone’s lips is how to beat Páidi,” laughed the UL final-year student.
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“The simple answer to that is it’s not easy. He’s in unbelievable form now.
“I thought the VisitNenagh.ie Classic would be too hilly for him but obviously not.
“If it came down to a straight-up sprint a number of riders could be close to him but he’s too smart to bring them to the line.
“At Rás Mumhan, if he didn’t get dropped on Coomanaspic on the Sunday stage I don’t know what would have stopped him winning.
“He’d possibly have won four stages and the overall if he got to the line in the front.
Páidí O'Brien and Conor Hennebry sprinting for second in Rás Luimní last month. O'Brien got the verdict but Hennebry pushed him all the way. The Carrick Wheelers man says riders will have to step up their games to beat the Osbourne Meats-McCarthy Cycles rider (Photo: Gerry Murray)
“He’s won that stage into Waterville twice before so who knows. Other riders are just going to have to step up their games to beat him.”
Rás Mumhan is a race Hennebry looks back on with fond memories.
Not only did he make his Irish debut, but he was part of the winning team with Sean McKenna claiming the final yellow jersey.
“I was really shocked to be on the team there as I haven’t been cycling that long and I just presumed I wasn’t known,” he said.
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“I think I justified my inclusion, though others may think otherwise,” he continued.
Finishing the brutal VisitNenagh.ie Classic 12 months ago. Hennebry was come a long way since then (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“I was riding terribly on stage one but just finished in the pack.
“I was hoping to do better but it was hell for leather coming into Killorglin so I said I wouldn’t risk anything in case of an accident.
“I felt better the Saturday but that was a tough stage so I just limited my losses.
“Sunday and Monday I was feeling great but came down in the crash with three laps to go,” he added of the final stage.
“But it was great to be included and it was a big achievement for me. It was nice to be part of a team with a good structure.”
Hennebry had initially set himself two targets this year; the VisitNenagh.ie Classic and the An Post Rás.
Finishing the National Road Race Championships in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath, last year. He will target that race this year when is college exams are out of the way (Photo: Sean Rowe)
But because his brother got married last Saturday and he has exams the week of the latter, he’s had to change his plans.
“I just wanna race, do my best, enjoy it and see what happens after that.
“The Nationals will be a goal obviously but other than that I haven't set out anything specific.
“Ideally I’d like to try my hand at racing abroad but I need some race results to justify that decision.
“If nothing happens this year, I will try to get a job and hopefully give it a go next year, but I am not disillusioned.
“If I’m not good enough I won’t waste my time and money going abroad for a beating and to come home with my tail between my legs.”
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