Charles Prendergast (Cunga) has focussed on college, but still has two years left at U23 level (Photo: Tony Fitzgerald)
By Brian Canty
Former Junior National Champion, Charles Prendergast is hopeful of putting a renewed focus on the bike after his final exams are over next summer, and with two years remaining at U23 level he is looking forward to the seasons ahead.
However, he says specific plans fore 2013 have not really crossed his mind just yet as he’s currently in the final year of a Biomedical Engineering degree in NUI, Galway and training has had to take a backseat for the time being.
He enjoyed an excellent 2012 season with some good wins, such as the Connacht Championships from a breakaway, a solo win in the Galway Bay criterium and perhaps most impressively, the overall win at Rás Connachta.
Advertisement
However, with 2013 looming the Cunga CC rider said his first priority for now is getting as good a degree as he can before turning his attention to the road.
Related News
“It’s tough trying to get out training when you’re in college down here because the course is so intensive. I could be in college up to 40 hours a week and it’s pretty difficult when you’ve a schedule like that to get out but hopefully when things calm down next year and I finish, I’ll be able to concentrate more on it then,” he reasoned.
Prendergast rode the An Post Rás this year with UCD but had to withdraw on stage seven because of a hernia problem. He’s a rider with bags of potential but when asked if he sees himself winning a stage of Rás Mumhan – a race he has performed well in in the past - he says next season it is probably beyond him.
“It’s just hard to see me getting a win in that. I’ve done okay in it but it’s early this year and I probably won’t have the form for it, being honest.”
“But I want to do the Rás and hopefully I’ll have the exams done with by then. Saying that, it’s hard to see me being any way competitive in that too because it’s such a difficult race and getting the training in for it won’t be easy.”
“After the books are done with I’ll be trying to get a job or possibly go on and do a Masters but I’ll definitely have more time for the bike and as I’m still U23 I’d like to do well in the Nationals. So I’ll be giving that a go if I can steer clear of injuries and sickness.”
For the coming season, he’ll be riding with the Cunga Racing team again, with his brother Jason who is now in fifth year.
Topics
