Teenager Curley thinking big after breakthrough ride in Wicklow
Eventual winner Liam Curley was up the road at the Shay 3 yesterday alongside the Doherty brothers from Westport, Con (Westport Covey Wheelers) and Aaron of NRPT Titan Containers (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Liam Curley, 17, took a brilliant win in the combined A3-Junior race at the Shay Elliott Memorial in Wicklow; the first-year junior winning a three-up sprint.
The Arklow youngster said the race is one he’s always watched over the years. And to win it was a dream come true for him.
He’s now hoping he can work his way onto an Irish team in the coming weeks or months.
“It’s by far the most prestigious race I've ever won. I've always dreamt of winning it as a kid,” he said.
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Curley, riding for NRPT, went into yesterday with the plan of conserving as much as he could until the decisive climb of Glenmalure.
“I got in a move with Con and Aaron Doherty after about 40 kilometres and we worked hard to catch the break up ahead," he said.
“I was struggling on the climb but I got back on on the descent and I saw the guys in the break were struggling.”
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Some of the riders lost ground in the climb, but Curley rode very well. And on the hardest test for juniors so far this year it was interesting to see who coped best (Photo: SeanRowe)
In the break were Ronan Tuomey (Cork Giant), Dillon Corkery (NRPT Titan Containers), JB Murphy (Murphy Surveyors, Kilcullen) and PJ Doogan (Powerhouse Sport).
But after the climb there was a considerable rearranging with just Curley, Doogan and the two Dohertys left.
Aaron Doherty was in the unenviable position of being there alongside his brother and his teammate.
But it was Con who attacked in the last 10 kilometres. “I bridged over to him solo,” continued Curley.
“He looked tired and I was confident in my sprint. So I was happy for it to go to a sprint. I'd class my sprint as my strongest point, especially after it's been a tough race.”
Hoping for Irish team selection
Curley said he was surprised to win given the calibre of rider who has won in the past. But he also said it was one of his big targets for the year.
“First of all it's a great win for NRPT Titan Containers," he said.
"I hope it helps me to be considered for a place in the Irish team. There is one going away to Trofeo der Gemeinde Gersheim (UCI Nations Cup) next month.”
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