Mark Downey in action at Rás Dun na nGall, which he won this year. He's Ireland's sole representative in the junior time trial at the World Championships in Florence on Tuesday and sounds ready to go.
By Brian Canty
Mark Downey will pull on an Irish skinsuit at the World Junior Time Trial Championships on Tuesday in Florence full of confidence following a brilliant season to date.
The 17-year-old Nicolas Roche Performance Team rider has enjoyed a string of wins this year, which include the overall at Rás Dun na nGall and the opening stage of the Junior Tour.
He also had the distinction of lapping the field in his heat in the points race at the World Junior Track Championships last month in Glasgow.
“I’ve really enjoyed the season with the team,” he told stickybottle ahead of his Worlds debut.
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“I don’t think I could have had a better season. Every race that I planned to do well in I hit it spot on. With the team, everyone really gelled well together and throughout the year they’ve been very supportive,” he added.
At the World Track Championships in Glasgow, Downey blasted his way to victory when he attacked the field alone with 26 laps to go, and reached the back of the peloton 15 laps later.
The attack brought him all five points in sprint 4 with 20 laps to go and secured him the win. He didn’t have matters as easy in the final later that day, but finishing 15th from 20 riders was still a phenomenal achievement.
“That heat was a major confidence booster for me in terms of putting the name out there,” he said.
“It might have just been a heat for other people but for me it was a bigger goal.”
“Just seeing how we fared out against people who have velodromes and maybe had over a year to prepare; whereas we had about a month and a half to prepare and the results we came home with…. I don’t think anyone could have been disappointed."
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"We all went there and gave it 110 per cent and I know we came home with no medals but we put our names out there.”
The younger brother of Sean, who is enjoying a very solid second season with the An Post Chainreaction team in Belgium, says he is really looking forward to the 22-kilometre test against the world’s finest on Tuesday.
“I’m buzzing for it now alright,” he beamed.
“I’m definitely really looking forward to it. It’s a very main road course; straight road and not very technical. It drags at the start, but it’s pretty much flat. It will suit me a wee bit and I’ll give it my best shot.”
“I think a top 25 would be a realistic aim. I really want to put my name out there. It has motivated me all year, training for this. I want to go out there and do well. I don’t want to let the country down and it will be a very proud moment for me pulling on the Irish jersey.”
Downey will be Ireland’s sole representative in the junior test, and he will ride the road race four days later alongside Dylan Foley and Eddie Dunbar.
And having spent six weeks training and racing in Belgium throughout late June and July, he believes they can be right up there.
“I think we’re definitely the three strongest guys in the country, with the results we have this year. I would like to think with Eddie, and the ability he has in the climbs; I’d like to think he should be there with a fighting chance.”
“Obviously I’ll pour my focus into the TT but I know when the time comes on the climb, Eddie is the strongest of the three of us and if he needs a hand, I’ll be there,” said Downey.
He also reserved special praise for his older brother and indeed his father Seamus, an Olympian, in helping him get to where he is now.
“Sean’s always there when I need him and I’ve been talking to him throughout the Tour of Britain and he’s keeping me right and he’s wishing me well. He keeps me right for training and also my dad has been a big help.”
“He’s obviously got a huge amount of experience too, and the two of them have really helped me out this year and I don’t think I would have got to where I am without the two of them. They’ll be there in Florence, and my mother too so that will give me an extra little bit of motivation to do well.”
As regards next year, the first year junior said he hasn’t anything decided but will sit down with Phil Finnegan, manager of the Nicolas Roche Performance Team.
“We haven’t really decided yet but this year has really been a big help for me. I was looked after really well and we produced good results. I think I’m too young to go to a foreign team so I’ll have a chat with Phil soon about next year.”
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