English in action this year for Science in Sports
Irish track and road international Felix English has signed for UK pro team Rapha Condor-Sharp.
The 19-year-old told stickybottle he has just finalised the details of his contract with the top ranked UK Pro Continental team.
“I’m really excited to sign for such a great team,” he said.
“It’ll be a big learning experience, and I'm grateful to be given the chance to race with some of the best riders in the UK. I’m very much looking forward to it.”
The teenager, who rode for Science in Sport this year, said he was tired by the end of this season. As a result he felt he had underperformed at the World Championships, where he abandoned the U23 road race and finished 52nd in the TT.
Advertisement
“I'm glad that my result there didn't affect my team for next season. I think next year can be a very big year.”
English will be rubbing shoulders with other Irish riders in the British peloton in 2012. Peter Hawkins has signed for Sigma Sport Specialized and Stephen Halpin will be riding for Metaltek-SCOTT.
Related News
The move to Rapha Condor-Sharp looks like a great one for English. He will get to ride the Premier Calendar races and will also get the opportunity to travel to Continental races.
The team is interested in the development of its young riders, a factor that should afford him plenty of scope to dedicate time to his goals with the Irish international set up.
He will also likely get a chance to ride the An Post Ras again next year, a race he rode with the Irish team this year.
Rapha Condor-Sharp was established five years ago and has had many of the best riders on the British domestic scene on its books including European omnium champion Ed Clancy, the Downings, Kristian House and Chris Newton to name but a few.
English is from Brighton but qualifies to ride for Ireland because his father is Irish.
He shot to international prominence last November when at the European track championships in Poland he eliminated Britain’s four-time Olympic sprint champion Sir Chris Hoy.
English won a silver medal behind Sean Downey in the U23 TT championships this year.
Last year he won two stages in the Junior Tour and the KOM competition. He was second in the prologue and won the final stage in the Junior Tour of Wales. On the track he won five British national track championship medals before declaring for Ireland.
English will wear the distinctive black and pink next year
Topics
