Adam Armstrong seems to be well on his way back to the form that made him one of the very best riders in the country just a couple of seasons ago (Photo: David McVeigh - The Belgian Project)
By Brian Canty
Having come very close to opening his account at the Phoenix GP last weekend when he was narrowly beaten by UCD's Eoin Morton, Adam Armstrong already appears to be back on the domestic racing scene with a bang.
Having been in the mix for Rás stage wins in the past, the 28-year-old said while that may be beyond him for this year he was hoping to target some of the hardest races on the calendar including the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow.
The ASEA-Wheelworx man is a fearsome competitor and having returned to the sport at the end of last year he’s put down a winter that pro riders would be proud of, saying his motivation is back “big time”.
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In a wide-ranging interview with stickybottle, the Newtownards man said he believes the domestic peloton is as strong now as he can ever remember.
And because of that, he feels the only way to win is to log the 300-mile weeks he’s been doing since October.
Leading the field last weekend; Armstrong back with a bang with ASEA-Wheelworx (Photo: Toby Watson)
“The winter has been good and consistent,” he reflected.
“I got a new job at the end of September so I’ve been riding in and out to work (in Belfast) every day so that’s allowed me get good, solid weeks in.
“I’m back big time now. That’s why I’ve done the winter I have.
“When the season stopped last year I got myself into okay shape, not good shape by my standards but I kept ticking away.
“I wasn’t doing anything specific but kept doing 15-18 hour weeks while the weather was good.
“I’d say the first week I didn’t do 300-miles a week was December; right through October and November was good.
“I haven’t done any high-end intervals yet, even going into last Sunday I hadn’t done a single sprint or any threshold work; nothing.
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“I’ve just done zone two and three.”
The fact that he finished 2nd and very nearly won despite that lack of top end preparation as yet bodes very well for him.
“My form really accelerates when I start doing sprint work and the moment I hit it it’ll be about holding it for the Rás," he said.
“I don’t think there’s time between Easter and the Rás to come down and get back up again so I want to hit it for Easter, or get close to where I should be and then hold it.
“The first big one for me will be Rás Mumhan,” he continued. “I think I’ll be where I need to be for that.
“After that, the Rás and the nationals will be big goals too, depending on what the team wants.”
Armstrong came very, very close to winning a stage of the An Post Rás back in 2012 but had to settle for third on the sixth stage between Buncrana and Killybegs.
He only raced sporadically in 2014 and last year, though still notched a few notable results.
“In 2014 I got myself in decent shape, I won the Wallace Caldwell Memorial and got up in a few races but I tried to help Fraser (Duncan) any way I could because he was chasing the Commonwealth Games.
“I didn’t race after the Rás that year so I’ve been out of racing since then really.
“I wouldn’t say I had a consistent week’s training for 10 months until last year before the Tour of Ulster. I remember the jersey was painted onto me for that!”
Speaking of the Rás, Armstrong came close to winning a stage back in 2012 but he had to settle for third on a blisteringly hot day where only 28 came to the line after 134 kilometres of racing between Buncrana and Killybegs.
He’d be seen as one of a handful who can win a stage but he preferred to play down his chances.
“Everyone says the Rás is the one they want but it's a dream more than anything to win.
“In terms of what’s achievable, the Des Hanlon is one I’ve always had a love for. Not to sound cocky but if I’m at 95 per cent I’m good enough to win that.
“Having said that, there are strong guys out there; Aquablue, UCD CC and the iTap boys are all going well.
“There are a lot of good first category riders. Even the group last weekend in Ulster was big, you wouldn’t have gotten it six years ago.”
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