Conor Dunne attacking as the breakaway forms at yesterday’s Wanzele-Lede pro kermesse in Belgium
Irish U23 international and national time trial champion, Conor Dunne (VL Technics-Abutriek) has said he feels he has some very good form and is hopeful he can show that if he gains selection for the U23 Tour of Flanders.
Dunne put in a very good ride at the Wanzele-Lede pro kermesse in Belgium yesterday, going in the break for around half of the 165km course in a race where a whopping 242 riders took to the start line.
On the basis of being aggressive and competitive there, he appears to be in some good form.
“I’ve been feeling really good so far this season,” he said of his first few outings after yesterday’s race.
Advertisement
Related News
“I trained harder than ever this winter, with three weeks staying with a mate in Mallorca in January. I felt good in the race yesterday and followed a few moves and attacked a bit after 80km. I ended up getting a gap and going away with a group of about 12, with three Topsport and three Landbouwkredit riders who drove the break along pretty fast.”
“With three laps to go everyone was attacking each other hard and the legs were hurting a bit but I was feeling good. The bunch was lurking behind though and they pulled us in with about 8km to go. I was gutted to be caught after being away so long and being pretty close to the finish but I was glad to have gotten out front and to show myself”
“Before yesterday I had ridden the Beverbeek Classic and Brussel Zepperen. I felt I was going well in both of them but I had a bit of bad luck in Zepperen. I punctured after the main cobbled section which meant a long chase back on to the group in the main part of the race”
While Dunne will be depending on being selected for the U23 Tour of Flanders on the national team to get a rider in that race, he is hopeful he will be picked. The race is on April 6th and will be the first outing in Europe in the 2013 Nations Cup; a series of one-day and stage races for U23 riders in which nations can score points towards qualifying for the World Championships in Italy in September.
“I’m feeling strong and competitive on the bike and I’m confident I can pick up a good result this month if I keep the focus. My first really big aim of the season is that U23 Flanders if I gain selection with Ireland, of course. I really want to do a strong ride there.”
Topics
