Sean Downey in the winning break during the 2014 national road race championships in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath. The Dromore, Co. Down man finished second to teammate Ryan Mullen in what was one of the performances of his career. He's back in the domestic peloton for 2016 having stepped away from the pro ranks (Photo: George Doyle)
By Brian Canty
Sean Downey will pin race numbers to the jersey he began cycling in almost two decades ago when he spearheads a strong Banbridge CC squad for tomorrow’s Travers Engineering Annaclone GP.
A star-studded line-up is expected in Co. Down for what is the first road race of the 2016 season, with Roger Aiken (ASEA-Wheelworx), Daniel Stewart (An Post Chainreaction) and Matthew Adair (Banbridge CC) just some of those expected to push for the win in the combined A1-A2-A3 race.
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For Downey, cycling is no longer his occupation as he opted away from that career at the latter end of last year.
And though he had been one of the five Irish named in the ill-fated Dynamo Cover squad he has since taken up employment in the family bike shop business in Dromore.
Downey rode two Commonwealth Games; taking bronze in the team pursuit in India in 2014. He would have been 13th in the road race in Glasgow, above, in 2014 but was stopped going onto the last lap.
“I’m back to where it all began for me now and I’m really enjoying it,” the 25-year old former An Post Chainreaction man said.
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“It’s no longer my job so my role in the club will be helping the young riders develop and make sure they don’t make the same mistakes I made along the way.
“I’ll do a bit of racing this year –starting tomorrow - but I’ll only race when I have the time.
“Life has changed a lot for me in a year; the bike is no longer the top priority now but I’m enjoying it, as well as a lot of other things.
Having ridden all over the world with Ireland and An Post-Chainreaction Downey will be welcomed back into the domestic peloton but insists he'll only race for fun and when he has time.
“For the first time in my life I’m getting to do things I never got to do and that’s been fun exploring that.
“I’ve been working away in the shop the last few months getting things going there, changing the look of the place and trying to build that up.”
A former national road race silver medallist and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Downey said he’s happy with his lot and content in himself that he spared no effort in trying to make a living from the bike.
“I’ve no regrets from my time on the bike. I was living my dream and I can proudly say I gave it my all.
“I’m happy and settled now at home and I ride my bike for fun and to keep me fit and healthy.”
He admitted the An Post Rás is not on his radar for the time being but hasn't ruled out riding it in the future.
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