Ready to put his body on the line for Ireland: Now a seasoned junior international, Stephen Shanahan is "proud and grateful" after being selected on the Irish team for the World Championships in June (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
Irish junior international Stephen Shanahan says he’s ready and willing to “completely sacrifice"” himself to help Eddie Dunbar win the junior road race at the World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, on Saturday week.
The Limerick CC man has been consistent throughout the season and his place on the team is a reward for the results he notched when opportunities presented themselves as well as the selfless riding while in an Irish jersey in service of Dunbar.
Shanahan rode on the Irish team at the Trofeo Karlsberg Nations Cup and the European Championships in Switzerland, while also helping Dunbar to back-to-back Junior Tour of Ireland titles as well as a Junior Tour of Wales crown.
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“I was absolutely delighted to make the team he said.
“Myself and my father (Tom) decided in February that I would aim to get on the team. And for it be reality now; I'm so relieved and happy.
“Waiting for the team to be announced was nervy for me, especially with such a good crop of juniors this year but I knew I had a good chance with the consistent season I’ve had.
“I think I did enough to earn my place on the team, I would have had a great Junior Tour of Wales only for a puncture in the crit with no laps out.
“Then getting third a week later in Limerick after getting away with Páidí (O’Brien) and Mark Dowling was fairly reassuring and then Charleville last weekend which also went well for me so I knew I gave myself the best chance."
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Out of Limerick: Shanahan has ridden very well all season in the colours of Limerick CC, Munster and Ireland and will round out the year with the biggest race of his junior career wearing the green of Ireland.
He believed the experience of riding as a team in the Irish Jersey at the Nations Cup in Germany, European Champs and the Junior Tour was a huge factor in being selected.
“We were faced with problems in all of those races; Eddie crashing in Germany and the Euros and the constant attacking that went on from the Americans in the Junior Tour. But I think the way we reacted and overcame those issues reassured Neil (Delahaye) that we could do the same happened again at the Worlds.
“It’s going to be a huge day for me and my family in Spain, it’s not every day you get to represent your country and the fact that it’s the World Championships makes it even more special.”
He added he would be “proud and grateful” when pulling on the jersey in Ponferrada.
“My father is one man I have to thank for getting me to where I am. He has been unreal, always believed in me and gives up so much of his time for me. He’s the reason I’m on this team”
On what he expects to happen in the race, the leaving Cert student said: “We’re going as a team to help Eddie win; I’m willing to completely sacrifice my own race for him to win. Neil will give me a job to do and I'll do it.
“Hopefully the distance won't be an issue, I've raced the 140km A1 Shay Elliot and finished ninth and trained that distance quite a few times this summer so I'm confident that I have the distance in the legs.”
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