Mark Downey powers his way to the national title in Co Cork today; adding the gold to the silver he won at the Europeans in Portugal. (Photo: Karen M Edwards)
By Brian Canty
The newly crowned National Junior Time Trial Champion, Mark Downey says he could pick between his gold medal from today or the European silver he won on the track for the points race last month.
The Banbridge man, in his second year with the Standard Life-Nicolas Roche performance Team, put in a fantastic ride to beat teammate Michael O’Loughlin for the title today.
He told stickybottle it was something he has been targeting for some time.
“This result tops off a great season for me,” a relieved Downey.
“I wanted to justify myself, because I haven’t the results on the road that I wanted; and that was all a sacrifice towards the track and working towards that one goal in the points race.
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“So when I got that silver medal I took a few days easy and re-evaluated what I wanted from the rest of my junior career. And something like that ride today hit the nail on the head and I’m over the moon to take the win.
“The Europeans were huge, it was a major, major achievement. But the TT there today was a big deal and I really wanted it, especially after finishing second last year to Eddie (Dunbar).
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“I really wanted to go for it so I’d say it’s right up there with the European silver, I couldn’t pick one over the other.”
Downey is a meticulous planner and leaves nothing to chance. He rode the course yesterday to get a feel of the course and he got his reward for that today.
“I was talking with my dad (Seamus) and it looked like a 12 and a half mile race, to be honest,” he said in reference to the out and back nature of the course today.
“All the time was going to be taken on the way out because it was more of a headwind and more uphill.
“I knew I needed to get out there and ride well, the course suited me because it was gradual climbing and I thought if I did a really good time going out I’d consolidate it on the way back.”
Asked if he had anything more to give today he replied an emphatic ‘no’; just as well given his slender winning margin.
“I think I did as well as I could, in all honesty. I actually thought I was on a bad day; my legs weren’t great, I wasn’t sure was it a good sign or not that my dad was saying nothing to me.
“But Neil Teggart gave me a thumbs up and that was good and I could also see Cale Coen, my two-minute man, and I knew I was on it.”
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