David Conroy battles the unforgiving terrain at the Koksijde cyclocross World Cup in Belgium last weekend. The 17 year-old Wicklow man had a day to forget when he suffered a mechanical on the opening lap which promptly ended his chances of giving an honest account of himself.
By Brian Canty
David Conroy described his experience of last Sunday’s Koksijde cyclocross World Cup as one of the most disappointing in his short racing career to date.
The Scott-Donnybrook Landscape Co rider rolled a tub on the first lap of the race and having been gridded so far back it was game over for him.
He was forced to run about one kilometre to the pits to retrieve a spare bike while the other riders just disappeared out of sight.
“The speed didn't slow at all for the first lap,” he recalled.
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“I made up some places in one running section and a few more in the sandy descent but soon afterwards I rolled my rear tub going around a relatively easy corner.
“That was my race over and watching everyone ride away from me as I started running was the most disappointing thing that has ever happened to me,” he added.
“I ran for over a kilometre to the pits where I jumped on my spare bike and set off in an already lost battle to try and regain some time.
“I struggled around for another three laps before being pulled with one lap to go.
“I was on my own over the course of the race but I got better at riding the sand, even though the spare bike had mud tyres that kept catching the sand and trying to throw me over the front of the bike.
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“I came to the race looking for an experience and I can't say I didn't get that!
“I wasn’t really expecting much so I can't be too down; it was my first time ever riding sand.
“So it was more about the experience for me, to see how I compare on the world level.
“I was a little bit nervous but not like I’d be for a nationals, just because there was no pressure.
“I was expecting the speed to be as fast as it was but I wasn’t completely shocked, so that augers well.”
Conroy’s plans are to continue racing right up until the National Championships in the New Year, possibly get a ride at the World Championships on the last weekend of January if he gets a chance while also targeting the British National Trophy Series.
Earlier this month he managed to win in the UK against many of their top juniors.
Read that story here.
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