Jason Prendergast scored a string of victories this season and is very much looking to move up a gear in 2015 (Photo: Paweł Sadowski of www.shutterstills.com)
Irish U23 international rider, Jason Prendergast is setting himself some lofty goals for next season when he will target wins in some of the biggest races on the domestic calendar.
A former youth Olympian and junior international, Prendergast rode the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan on the Irish development team this year and he is hoping for international selection again in 2015.
The Louisburgh man said he was thrilled with how last season had gone.
But with a Leaving Cert and some bouts of illness affecting him throughout the year, he feels there is more to come in the next 12 months.
“It was a big year for my progression,” he said.
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“I gained valuable experience that I’ll take with me going into next season. It all came down to being happy; not just happy on the bike but happy outside the sport too.”
Riding to the win in the Markievicz Cup in Collooney, Co Sligo, back in March (Photo: Paweł Sadowski of www.shutterstills.com)
Prendergast said moving to the Liquidworx-Fitscience team in its maiden year this season had proven to be a wise decision.
"Simon (Walsh, coach) and Derek (Bowyer, DS) made sure I was sorted for everything throughout the year and I appreciate that so much,” he said.
"We were a happy team; everyone gelled very well and it was a pleasure being in the team.
"There's not one thing better than coming home and telling my parents or my girlfriend Lisa that I won, so I was happy both on and off the bike, which is the key to success.”
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Now studying journalism in NUI, Galway, Prendergast said the win that stands out for him was one on roads he knew well.
“The Westport crit was the highlight; it was a big race near the town where I started my cycling career. There was a huge crowd out and I will never forget that evening.
“The one regret I do have from the year was not being able to ride the national crit champs. Crits seem to be something I'm good at, but when the crit champs were organised I was too long off the bike with a flu to come into form for the race.”
Leading his team’s clean sweep of the podium at the Westport Criterium in July for his fifth win of the season (Photo: www.jimmymcelroy.com)
But he says there are plenty of big goals ahead.
“I’ve big plans with the team and we’ve started the long journey already for next year,” he said.
“I'd like to win one of the ‘big ones’. I don't really mind which one, but I feel in 2015 I will have form that I would never have had before, so I think it'll be a good year.
“The Irish team is a big aim for me too. Being on the squad last year for Rás Mumhan was a great feeling for me.
“To put on the green jersey gives you great pride and motivation. So in 2015 I’d be looking to put on the green jersey again, and hopefully win in it.”
Prendergast added with a stage of the Rás possibly set to finish in Mayo next year, he would love to be able to give a good account of himself in that race in his second year at U23.
“I think I have a good chance of getting a medal in the U23 national champs too. There is a lot of talent in that group now, but I feel with the support I can challenge.”
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