David Montgomery, far left, takes some food on board at a recent Team 3M training camp in Cambrils, south of Barcelona (Photo: Team 3M)
David Montgomery said it came as a “massive surprise” to get the call to join Belgian Continental outfit Team 3M for the coming season but isn’t fazed by what’s ahead of him.
The reigning national cyclocross champion has deferred his University course in Loughborough in the UK so he can devote himself full-time to the bike but as yet, has no idea what races he’ll be doing.
He spent 10 days getting to know the team at a camp south of Barcelona last month and was highly impressed by the set-up.
“It was absolutely incredible, I was living a dream for 10 days,” he said.
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“I only knew Jack Sadler from the team; he’d been out with a junior camp a few years ago and I roomed with him.
“The only other Irish guy was Connor McConvey but I’d never spoken to him before but we’re both in similar circles back here (in Ireland).
“The team are a great crew; all keen to chat and they all speak good English.”
Montgomery on the front of the group at the recent traing camp (Photo: Team 3M)
Montgomery recalled the moment he saw a Belgian number flash on his phone and was asked to join the team out of the blue.
David Montgomery will ride at Continental level this year for Belgian side Team 3M. The former Chain reaction Cycles man is in for a tough year but has deferred college in Loughborough University so he can concentrate on giving it his all.
“It was a massive surprise, getting the call,” he reflected.
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“I was sitting in my room one day and a call came from a Belgium number and it was the team manager saying they had a space for someone from the UK or Ireland and if I was interested in joining.
“Previous to that I’d planned to do more mountain biking this year but I was more than happy to do this; anything that gets me riding the bike every day is great!”
He’d had a good winter as he prepared fastidiously for the national cyclocross champs. So that stood to him in the first official team get-together in Spain.
Connor McConvey - right, front - is another Irish rider in the team, as is former junior international Jack Sadler (Photo: Team 3M)
“I wasn’t out of my depth; it’s always hard to tell where I was (in relation to the other guys),” he said.
“They could have opened it up another 10% maybe but it’s always hard to tell because no one is out to prove themselves.
“Everything else was grand, for the intervals I was up there with the others and the climbing was okay, it was thoroughly enjoyable.
“It wasn’t massively taxing, and things like having the team car there for food or a bottle, all the stress was taken away. It was incredible,” he added.
In terms of racing he said: “Nothing yet, it’s just about making sure I’m in shape and they respect I’m just coming from a cyclocross scene and I need some time to train and get into shape.
"So I’m just getting that done; at the minute there’s nothing definite.”
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