Conor McConvey drives on to win the North Down GP after jumping away from the remnants of the break in the final kilometres and time-trialling his way to the finish. The Belfast man is hoping his good form can help him push for a place at the World Championships in Richmond, Virginia next month (Photo: Derek Clegg)
By Brian Canty
Conor McConvey soloed to a fine win in the final round of the National Road Series on Sunday and is hoping it can help his cause when it comes to selection for the UCI World Championships next month in Richmond, Virginia.
The Belfast man proved a class apart from the star-studded field which lined up for the North Down GP, jumping clear of a four-man break in the final five kilometres.
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He said it was as satisfying as it was hard-fought and it’s given him the motivation to continue training as if he’s going to be picked for the Irish team for the elite men’s road race in the US.
“It’s never handy to win at home,” he said.
“The week before it was the same in the John Beggs Memorial; Damien Shaw had a bit more than me that day but yesterday was just as hard.”
A break of 10 riders escaped early on and with Shaw and teammate Bryan McCrystal absent not to mention Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne), the onus was on the escapees to ride, of which McConvey was one.
“Everyone was happy to commit because those lads missed it but with 40k to go I started to get it going with a few attacks,” McConvey recalled.
“Eoin Morton (UCD CC) and myself went away for a bit but were brought back and then Adam Armstrong and Morton got away on the last lap.
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McConvey said he is going to continue to train based on the assumption he will be picked for the Worlds so if the call up comes he would be ready to do battle (Photo: Derek Clegg)
“They got 30 seconds but I went across and picked up David Watson (North Down CC) on the way.”
A fresh round of attacks commenced with 10k to go but it wasn’t until the 5k to-go mark that the crucial blow was struck.
McConvey jumped clear and had around a minute on Morton by the finish with Watson third.
“I put in a really big July so I’d be good for the second part of the season,” said the winner.
“My approach is to keep looking after myself, I did a decent training block so the form is all good.
“The World Championships wouldn’t have been on my radar early in the season but with Brammeier out it may open the door a bit.
“I try not to think about national selection because it’s out of my control.
“I just do my job as best I can and if it comes up then of course I’ll go and give it absolutely everything for the team.”
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