James Davenport has returned to university but is still hoping to get results in the new colours of DID Dunboyne (Photo: Dc Images)
By Brian Canty
DID Dunboyne’s newest recruit James Davenport has admitted it will be difficult during the coming campaign to replicate the form he had in 2014.
The 25-year-old recently joined the Meath-based outfit and is aiming for a slot on their An Post Rás team alongside top riders like Mark Dowling and Javan Nulty.
But he has since returned to college to study physiotherapy in UCD and that consumes a lot of his time.
“It will hard to live up to last year simply because the priority is college at the moment,” he said.
“But if I get through the exams I’ll have the whole summer for racing. Plus, the college lifestyle isn’t the worst in the world either.”
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His training has not been as structured as it was last year, but he is still logging the miles when he can.
Davenport has improved year on year since he took up cycling and it'll be interesting to see what he can do this year in the colours of DID Dunboyne. (Photo: George Doyle)
“I fit it in around study at the moment. I do it more so to clear the head and keep myself level.
“As I said, the priority is college at the moment and that’s why I didn’t commit to a team. I just wanted a club with a team emphasis.
“DID are obviously a strong club and I’ll be able to enter individual races with no pressure to perform.
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“It’s kind of nice not having pressure on your shoulders.
“We get on well in the team and I’ve raced with some of them before so it made sense to move to them.”
Between a county rider prize in the Rás and lapping the field to win the Stephen Roche GP, Davenport said the Rás prize was the highlight.
James Davenport, formerly of South Dublin CC, keeps a close eye on his rivals during the Stephen Roche GP last year (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
“Although the Stephen Roche GP win was special, being so close to home with so many family members watching, I really enjoyed winning the county rider prize - and getting a run for my money from Sean Lacey,” he said to his 13th place finish on stage five of the race last year, one ahead of Lacey of Aquablue CC.
“That’s something I’d like to replicate again,” he added.
However, he said doing so will be quite a test.
“I’ll be tied up until just before the Rás but I’m going to do Rás Mumhan, just more for training and get a bit of mileage in and hopefully use it as preparation for the Rás,” he explained.
“I won’t be doing the Tour of Ulster as it’s bang in the middle of my college exams.
“I’ll do the big ones, Rás Mumhan, the An Post Rás but I’ve no real goals at this stage.
“I’ll wait until the end of the exams and see how I’m feeling and I’ll decide then.”
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