A study in quietly going about his business and making progress every year; Conn McDunphy has lifted himself to the pro peloton and the Irish team in the last couple of seasons. And now he gets his biggest chance; a start in the Worlds U23 road race (All photos by Sean Rowe)
There has been a late change to the men’s road race team for the U23 race at the World Championships in Innsbruck tomorrow.
Unfortunately after a fantastic season with Team Wiggins, Matt Teggart cannot ride the race, as intended.
And in his place Conn McDunphy has been drafted into the team. McDunphy, who has ridden for Holdsworth Pro Racing this year, also rode the TT on Monday.
When the U23 team was select for Innsbruck Conn McDunphy was named as reserve.
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However, Eddie Dunbar had been down to ride the U23 TT, with compatriot Michael O’Loughlin.
Dunbar has a great chance of winning tomorrow’s road race. And so he decided to skip the TT in Innsbruck and focus on the road race; a wise move given his prospects on the road.
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Also in the team for the U23 race; Daire Feeley, Michael O'Loughlin and Darragh O'Mahoney. Eddie Dunbar - not pictured - leads the line-up and is one of the main favourites.
Dunbar's absence from the TT McDunphy was upgraded from reserve into the team, riding the TT with O’Loughlin as the two Irish entries.
And now that Matt Teggart finds himself unable to ride the road race tomorrow, McDunphy has now been upgraded into the road race team as well.
That Teggart is not riding is perhaps not completely unexpected. He has had a very full season with Team Wiggins racing all over Europe.
He rode the Tour de l’Avenir with the Irish team last month and crashed on that race. While it did not effect his continued participation in the race, he sustained a back injury.
And when Team Wiggins got a late call-up to the Tour of Britain – because Aqua Blue Sport folded – Teggart was selected to ride.
He went in a breakaway on the second stage, securing the intermediate sprints jersey. And while he retained that jersey, his back injuy flared and Teggart was forced out of the race.
He completed stage 5 but decided because of the injury he would not start the following day.
In Teggart’s absence, the team for tomorrow includes McDunphy, Dunbar, O’Loughlin, Daire Feely and Darragh O’Mahony.
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