Felix English punches the air in delight after winning the Beverley Town Centre Criterium in the UK. The Irish international has been out of action for the guts of a year because of injury but looks to be back to his best (Photo: Larry Hickmottt – VeloUK.net)
By Brian Canty
Back on the top step of the podium after over a year in the wilderness, Felix English was celebrating again last weekend when he won the pro Beverley Town Centre Criterium in the UK.
The Irish international broke his wrist last year in four places and has endured a lengthy road back, one where he admits his confidence took a knock.
But he’s made good strides of late and has been drafted into the Cycling Ireland track programme. And he is looking forward to other goals on the road too.
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“I always knew I'd get back to where I was, I just didn't expect it to take as long as it did,” he said.
“I'd lost a lot of confidence cornering from the crash; I was super nervous.
"But now I'm fit enough to be winning and it’s slowly coming back to me again. The team and our sponsor HMT were great in getting me back riding again.
English had turned into one of the best riders on the competitive UK pro crit scene before disaster struck 18 months ago. But he appears to be back to the same level again (Photo: Toby Watson)
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“I was set up with a specialist surgeon as the four breaks I had in my wrist were all pretty bad.
“If I’d had my surgery in Australia I don't think I'd have been able to ride again," he said in reference to sustaining his injury during the team's traditional New Year training and racing trip Down Under.
"But after the operation I saw a physio within three days and carried this on with three appointments a week for over two months.
“I didn't doubt myself at first as I'd won races last year off not very much training and a broken hand.
"But when I got back on the bike and realised how much I'd lost it did worry me.”
And now with a pro crit win under his belt, he sounds upbeat about his racing and his return to the national track fold after a four-year absence.
“I put the win down to the training I did in Spain with the Irish team and their coach David Muntaner," he said.
“I'm looking forward to getting back over to Mallorca after a break and seeing how well we can go on the boards.”
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