Javan Nulty has won a string of races at home this season and with the form and confidence his stint in Belgium has given him, he should do well for the rest of the season and progress even further in 2014.
By Brian Canty
Up and coming 20-year-old, Javan Nulty’s stint of racing in Belgium with the U23 international set up came to an end on Saturday and the DID Dunboyne rider said he’s improved no end and is keen to get back into action as soon as possible.
Nulty, whose father Colm won the Rás in 1971, regrets not winning a race out there but believes he could have done so last Wednesday night had he not crashed with less than 10 kilometres to go.
“I was in a break and I was just thinking I could really get up, I felt really good, I actually thought I was going to win the race,” he explained.
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“I’ve always been hanging on in kermesse races but I was thinking to myself ‘this is piss easy’. We were going into a bend on the second last lap which was about nine kilometres to go and I got switched into the ditch, midway through the corner and came down."
"There were about 20 or so in the break and I think I was definitely one of the strongest there,” he added.
“But I was happy with how I was going. I didn’t get into the first break but got into another one and it was the first time Belgian fellas were telling me to calm down.”
Nulty rode the Tour of Brabant stage race, his best result being 20th on one stage. But he says with more experience, he could’ve been higher up.
“It was tough in Holland but I think that was more due to all the travelling. You really only start to enjoy it when you’re going well with the strong guys. The best I got in Brabant was 20th. I see from Jack (Wilson) that it’s so much about positioning and he’s good at that, you can see he has the experience.”
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Nulty, who has enjoyed an excellent domestic season believes there’s no difference between racing in Belgium and in Ireland , just that the style is more aggressive.
“If an A1 rider came over it would take about two weeks to get into it I’d say but we’re not a million miles behind. I’ve won races at home in Ireland and these races are winnable too."
"Instead of having five guys at home who can win, you’ve 100 out here, so it’s harder. Positioning is probably one of the most important things but if you’ve no problem jumping up on kerbs and going through tight spaces, you’ll be okay, you could have a whole bunch on a footpath,” he laughed.
Brian Nugent, who was looking after a motley crew of the country’s best young talent in the town of Ronse in Flanders said kermesse racing is the best way to improve.
“Kermesse races are good for the guys, there are all sorts of different levels. You don’t win those races easily… the juniors can do them three times a week if they want but we (could) only do them once or twice a week (because of track training commitments)."
"We brought out Marcus Christie after his recent good form in the Nationals and to see where he was, we gave him an opportunity and he grabbed it with both hands, he won an U23 kermesse. There’s a great buzz and it’s very positive and it’s great to see, it’s an extremely positive environment.”
Nugent said he loves being involved and wouldn’t change it for anything.
“I absolutely love it. I say to people, ‘this is my life, I wouldn’t do anything else’. I chose to do this and I love it. They are days when it’s tough and things are constantly on my mind because it’s a very ambitious programme.
"We had 18 guys on the road last week between kermesses and stage races and the track… sometimes there are two races in the one day but we’re having good support from Kurt (Bogaerts) and the staff are really pushing us on but I love it.”
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