Mitchell McLaughlin has said he is hoping to get a clearer shot at his racing goals in the year ahead after last season’s Covid-19 chaos.
McLaughlin had signed for Zappi
Racing for 2020 and was aiming to get selected for major international races
with the British team and also hoping to be selected to race for Ireland.
However, just as he was getting going last spring, Covid-19 moved in and forced the cancellation of races in Ireland and Britain, while also hitting the European scene hard.
Still, McLaughlin managed to put some results together – including a medal in the U23 TT at the National Road Championships – and he has now signed with SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling for the season ahead.
He will join fellow Irishman Daragh O’Mahony at the British Continental team and is hopeful of a clearer run at race action this time around.
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“Last year was a strange one for everyone,” he said. “I was going well in March. Then the virus broke out.
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"My main goal was the Baby Giro, to race the Worlds and the Europeans and also to target the nationals.
“Having said that, I still got 3rd
in the nationals TT behind Ben Healey and Kevin McCambridge; they were outstanding
on the day.”
While he also picked up other results on the home scene through the year he was unlucky not to win a second nationals medal; crashing out of the winning three-man breakaway at the National Criterium Championships.
But with 2020 now done and dusted,
the 22-year-old from Donegal said he was looking ahead to a new start this
season.
“I’m really happy to get a ride with SwiftCarbon Pro; really looking forward to kicking off the season soon with the team and hopefully get some good results this year.”
McLaughlin said with Covid-19
persisting, his specific race plans were not yet set. However, when he had a
firm schedule he would sit down with his coach, Ronan McLaughlin, and plot his
season.
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