Adam Stenson is back with a bang after an injury-delayed start to the season. The Celbridge teenager, riding for NRPT-Magnet.ie, is looking forward to a big year and wearing the green of Ireland is a key goal (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
After an injury-hit winter, Adam Stenson got back to winning ways at the weekend when he claimed the Dunsany GP promoted by Drogheda Wheelers.
The NRPT-Magnet.ie man beat some very good riders on a wretched day for racing and proclaimed himself back on track in the aftermath.
The Irish junior international developed two tendon injuries in his right knee as well as tendonitis in his quad over the winter.
But despite an enforced lay-off, he was never worried about missing the season when it really mattered.
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To correct himself, he swam five days a week and lifted weights in the gym four days a week.
“I was never worried about missing all of the season,” Stenson said after his win from an eight-rider breakaway on Saturday.
“It took me a while to come to terms with missing the early season and I was quite frustrated but I kept being told I'd be back in time to have a good summer.
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“And with all the really important races from July onwards I was confident I'd be back racing a bit before then.”
Saturday was his first race back and it says something about his talent that he was able to win.
“It worked out nicely in my favour,” he recalled. “I knew I wanted to get up the road and get a bit of a workout more than anything.
“I was getting cold sitting in the bunch so I just kept attacking and riding hard.
“With two laps to go I attacked on the main road with Paddy (Goszczyk, Bikeworx) and Jack (Caldwell, also from BikeWorx).
“I knew the two lads were going very well and a move of eight went away and we worked nicely.
“Coming into the gallop I didn't fancy my chances as I haven't done any sort of sprint since last September so to know I still have it without training and that my knee can take that kind of intensity is promising,” he added.
Understandably, Stenson, still a junior, has some big goals this year.
“I'll take it step by step but I'd like to compete at the races I was just making up the numbers in last year such as the UCI junior Nations Cup as well as the European and World championships.
“I'd like a decent result and to start to get properly noticed.”
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