Peter Hawkins has worn the Rás yellow jersey in previous years. But now nearing the end of his full-time racing career, his goals have changed and he was delighted with 4th yesterday and the county rider prize. Above. on the podium in Bearna with stage end organiser Nigel Forde and Miss An Post Rás Aisling Feeney (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
Sprinting in fourth on stage three in Bearna, Peter Hawkins (Down Nth Graham Powerhouse) has said that he is psyched by his result in the race and that he is aiming for more strong showings in what could be his final An Post Rás.
The rider previously took fourth on stage two in 2013 and took over the yellow jersey of race leader.
He crashed out the following day but returned last year to net seventh in the 1.2-ranked Rutland Melton Classic and tenth on stage four of the An Post Rás.
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“It was quite a hard stage, actually,” he told stickybottle after stage three.
“The first few stages have been, as Rás stages go, not too hard.
“But it was quite full on right from the start today. I think the Tirol guys let a group go, they wanted to let a group go.
“A lot of the other teams weren’t happy with that, they wanted to keep it aggressive.
Sprinting in for 4th yesterday; a result that says he is in with a chance of a stage win on this race. Hawkins is the rider with the white helmet, under the winner's left arm in this shot (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
“It just made for quite a hard stage from the start to the finish. It came together at the end and it was good to get something out of the sprint.”
Hawkins, who comes from Belfast, said that he kept quiet during the stage.
Team-mate Marc Potts was up the road in the long distance move and so he bided his time, waiting to see if they would stay clear.
That move was reeled in towards the finish, and so he then moved into action.
“I had a feeling that I would go for the sprint,” he said. “I really tried to follow the good trains. I have been around a bit now so I know what I am doing in a finish.
“I got behind the An Post guys and just made sure no one came around me. Fourth on the stage, I am quite pleased with that.”
Hawkins has been with British teams in the past three seasons; he spent two years with IG-Sigma Sport and then moved to Madison-Genesis in 2014.
Riding in Belgium last year with Madison-Genesis; Hawkins also rode with another UK Continental team, IG Sigma Sport, for two years. He has been National Criterium Champion twice and is the reigning champ and has been a road international on many occasions (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)
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This year he is racing with an amateur team in Belgium and said that he has been enjoying it.
“I have been getting a few good results…bit like this really, I have had either top tens or I haven’t been featuring really. On my day, the form has still been there, which is good.”
Outside the top 100 on days one and two, he is no threat for the general classification.
He said that his intention was to hit it on selected days, and taking fourth puts him in the frame of mind to continue to do so.
“I wanted to have a few good stage results in the sprints and some breakaways,” he explained. “Hopefully from here I can feature in both.”
His plans after the race ends is to be competing mostly in Ireland.
Riding the Beaumont Trophy in England in June with an Ulster squad is possible, then he will do the nationals championships and subsequent events.
On his way to 14th in the Lincoln GP in the UK back in 2011; Hawkins has raced for Ireland on many occasions and has been on the podium in the UK's biggest races, including the Tour of Britain.
He said the clock is likely ticking on his competitive days.
“I am thinking this might be my last year,” he said.
“I am just going to enjoy my racing and take it from there. But sometimes when you are enjoying it that is when the best things happen.”
Now 29 years of age, he feels that it is time to look to the next chapter. He knows that it will be hard to find a big team when he is about to turn 30, and so he is planning ahead.
“I have got a maths degree, so I think I am going to be going into teaching next year,” he said.
“I have always known that was the plan but I wanted to just try to have as good as a career as I could. I think I have done that, so I’m ready to move on, I think.
“As long as I can enjoy what might be my last Rás, that is what I am here for.”
Hawkins looking good in yellow at the end of Rás stage 2 two years ago. But he would crash out the next day (Photo: Sportsfile)
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