Sean Yelverton, right, duals with Darragh O'Mahony in the gallop for the line in the national junior road race championships last month. O'Mahony got the verdict on that occasion in the race for the silver but the finishing order was reversed in Charleville on Saturday . (Photo with thanks to DC Images)
By Brian Canty
Sean Yelverton is hopeful his late end-of-season form can earn him a place on the Irish junior team for the World Championships in the US later this month.
The Mego Racing Team man rider for Munster this weekend won the opening stage of the Charleville Two-Day on Saturday ahead of teammate Darragh O’Mahony.
However, he worries his mid-season dip in form might count against him when the Irish team for the US is picked shortly.
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Yelverton won the VisitNenagh Classic back in April and he said if the Irish selectors were watching him take the opener in Charleville he hoped they would have been impressed.
“Myself and Shane (Kenny) got up the road early and no one came across until that big 10-man group and then another,” he explained.
“We were around 20 in total but the riding was negative enough; some guys weren’t pulling through on the hills.
“A crash brought down half the bunch though and that really split it up; no one got back on and those up front were there to fight it out,” he said.
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Yelverton put in a dig on the first lap to test who was strong and with two teammates for company in the move he knew he need not be as careful with his attacks.
“Darragh (O’Mahony) and myself were talking and he planned to attack on the last lap. He went and I went across to him and it was all-out to the line.
“The body was tired all week after the Junior Tour (of Wales) but I got stronger as the stage wore on today.”
He’s on the same time as O’Mahony starting the split stage on Sunday.
But with a short TT of less than 7km and a road stage remaining, he knows he’s got a real chance to keep yellow and if he does that he maybe has a shot at Irish selection
“I’d love to be there on the plane to America but I don’t if I’ve put in a good enough season.
“I didn’t do the best in the Junior Tour of Wales but if they’re watching what I did today and if I can hold yellow I might make it… But it’s tough with so many young fellas there fighting for it.”
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