Now full time in the national track set-up, those in the know believe Josie Knight can go all the way to the top of the sport (Photo: Sean Rowe)
With one medal already in her palmares, Josie Knight was perhaps the breakthrough rider of 2014.
Riding for the O’Leary Stone Kanturk team, Knight has shown her potential in the youth ranks since first throwing her leg over the cross bar of a road bike.
She competed in her first World Road Championships in Spain in September and while on track for perhaps a top 10 to 15 placing in the junior time trial, she would crash in the rain.
She got back up and raced hard to the finish, but the injuries she picked up were severe.
And while she would start the junior road race a few days later she was ultimately forced to abandon, though she will be back next year.
Advertisement
But it is on the track where the 17-year-old from Dingle, Co Kerry, has really shone in recent times.
A first year junior this year, she was selected on the Irish team to ride the European Junior Track Championships in Portugal in the summer.
Lining out in the individual pursuit, Knight blasted to the fastest time of the international field in the qualifying round.
Head down during the junior time trial at the World Road Championships in Spain before a crash would ruin her effort (Photo: Sirotti)
That put her into the final of the event, where she was guaranteed at least a silver medal.
She would take the gold if she could beat the young Russian Daria Egorova who was second fastest in the qualifying round.
In the end it was not to be; Knight was beaten by seven tenths of a second by the Russian champion.
However, her silver was an amazing ride and she shaved six seconds off the national record in the process.
Those around her feel she will rewrite the record books in the years ahead, having made her elite UCI World Cup debut since taking her junior Europeans medal.
Now very firmly inserted into the national track programme, for now she has opted for full time racing rather than sit her Leaving Cert next year.
She rode the points race at the World Cup in London earlier this month, her first taste of competition at that level.
Related News
Knight leading the breakaway on her way to the U16 national road title in Enniscorthy last year; hard to believe she has gone from this to the elite UCI World Cup in 15 months.
Cycling Ireland head coach Brian Nugent has gotten to know her well this year and he believes there is no limit to what she can do.
It was Nugent who selected her for the elite team pursuit line-up for the UCI World Cup in Mexico in November despite her youth.
“It was marvellous, she was in Guadalajara last month just watching,” said Nugent.
“And with her, it’s a step by step process. You have to watch it first and feel it before you get an opportunity to race.”
She was selected again for the World Cup in London three weeks ago.
She displayed her racing instincts in the points race against a quality international field that did not overawe her.
“One of the best things to see was Josie mixing and riding with good tactical awareness against world champions,” Nugent said at the time.
Receiving her silver medal at the Europeans in Portugal in July; unlikely to be the last time Knight graces a podium at a major championships.
"I’ve not seen many people do that in the points race at this level at her age; definitely one for the future.”
And looking back on it now, Nugent believes the experience his young charge has banked to date will stand her in good stead as early as next month with the UCI World Cup moves to Cali, Colombia.
“The next time she’ll be 100 per cent ready to go, you can’t rush someone so young,” he said.
“In London she really stepped up, made some minor errors but did a really good job.
“She’s really keen to ride the points race and gain experience so she took the bull by the horns and is learning all the way through.
“She has got phenomenal talent for someone that age.
"I’m 100 per cent convinced that if she sticks with it she’ll make it to that top level; 100 per cent certain.”
Topics
