Following a coaching plan for the first time was behind his taking a string of racing wins and simply getting much stronger as a rider, says Ryan Reilly - seen here leading in a photograph by Toby Watson.
Derry youngster Ryan Reilly scored one of the surprise wins of the year when he soloed to victory in the Ulster Championships road race early in the season.
He saw off some of the best riders in the country on the day including Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles), Ronan McLaughlin (Dig Deep Coaching) and Ali Macauley (Phoenix CC).
Along with Murphy and Macauley, Reilly made his way across to lone leader McLaughlin on the final of four 31km laps in Donegal in June.
He then attacked the group with 2km remaining and soloing to a fantastic victory in Clonmany.
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Because of the controversial race rules governing categories, he was only crowned Ulster junior champion while Murphy took the senior title.
The 18-year-old Foyle CC man now heads into his first year in the U23 ranks.
But having started a four-year physiotherapy degree course he is a little uncertain about what he can commit to the bike.
Winning the Phoenix GP A3 event on the opening day of the 2014 season way back in mid February (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)
Still, he’s motivated to do well and talks about the possibility of linking up with French team Hennebont Cycling again, with whom he rode for a period last summer.
“Winning the Ulster championships was definitely the highlight of the year,” he said.
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“I just felt great that day. I'm not sure how to describe the feeling of winning that race.
“It was the first race my Grandad came to watch me in and I know me winning meant a lot to him.”
He added his capturing the title also secured his place with Hennebont in France, though that move was very much in the pipeline already.
Though he would miss an opportunity of trying with win another medal at the national championships in Blarney in August because of a chest infection, he said he was very happy with his progress in what was only his second year racing.
In pink on the left, taking the junior prize at the end of the cat 1 Lorient GP in France this summer.
“Last year I just did my own training and didn't take it too seriously but at the end of that season I decided to get a coach,” he said.
"A few people directed me to Paddy Doran and I really think that’s really the reason for how strong I was this season; I just had a proper training schedule.”
Following the plan’s laid by Doran, Reilly won five open races at home and took three 4th places when he went to France as well as the junior prize in the cat 1 Lorient GP.
"I just wish I'd taken a stage at the Junior Tour,” he said, despite being happy overall looking back on the campaign.
“I’d my tactics all wrong and I was heavily marked but I got some great experience from it. “
“Next year it's possible I might be signed for a French team part-time but nothing's set in stone yet.
"I'm in University in Belfast five days a week so it will be a tough year for me if I want to continue at the same level.”
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