Matthew Teggart is hoping his current stint in France will aid his chances of being selected for the World Championships. Seen here winning the Groucho Grand Prix from Newry's Cathal Clarke in June.
By Brian Canty
Junior Tour of Ireland stage winner, Matthew Teggart believes the only two guaranteed places on the five-man Irish team for the World Junior Road Race Championships in Spain at the end of the month are for Eddie Dunbar and Michael O’Loughlin.
The Nicolas Roche Performance Team rider is currently racing and training in France alongside teammate O’Loughlin, hoping he will get the nod for the team that will be named in coming days.
He believes he is in superb form right now after having to withdraw from the National Road Championships last month with a stomach bug, and can help the aforementioned duo deliver a good result in three weeks time.
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“It’d be the dream end to this season considering the bad luck I’ve had with sickness and injury,” he said of his possible selection for the Worlds.
Winning stage 3 of the Junior Tour of Ireland in July was Teggart's best performance of the season to date (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
“After winning a few races and having such a good Junior Tour I think I have a chance of making it. I thought if I had a good nationals then I’d definitely be a name up there for a place. But after having to withdraw; it didn’t give me any chance to show what I can do.”
Teggart returns home next Monday after what will be an 11-day spell in France with the AC Bisontine squad and he says the level of racing abroad has already improved his condition.
“Life out here is really good, I love it,” he said.
“Everything just seems so much better with the warmer weather and the sun being out all the time makes it easier. The roads are also a lot better than home and you can tip along a lot faster, but there’s no shortage of climbing either.
With O’Loughlin, he rode the four-stage Tour du Loire Pilat at the weekend, which included a time trial.
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Teggart, on far right with O'Loughlin beside him, in the colours of AC Bisontine in France, where he is currently racing.
“It was a lot different to racing at home,” he said.
“There was a field of over 120 guys and some of the best juniors in the world were there, like the Russian national team for example.
“The race was based around the Alps so there was no shortage of climbing and on both stages there were at least two mountains; proper mountains. One stage finished up a 20km climb after 100 kilometres.
“We’ve both been doing well though and we’ve been able to hold our own but the pace takes some getting used to. Some days we’re in the last few sprockets almost spun out but the experience has been good and it’ll definitely stand to us.”
He believed the racing stint away, although short, has polished off his form well towards a possible Worlds ride.
“But there are so many good juniors at home now; Ireland could easily send another five riders on top of the first five,” he added.
“So to have my name up there for contention means I’ve had a successful season and although I’d love nothing more than to be one of the five selected, I certainly won’t be expecting it. The only guarantees are Eddie and Michael.”
At Rás Dhun na nGall last year with a yellow jerseyed Mark Downey; another NRPT man in with a great chance of Worlds selection. In the centre is their team's manager Philip Finegan.
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