Walsh digs in at Ras Mumhan 2011 (Photo: Mike Leane)
UCD rider Anthony Walsh is looking forward to his first full-time season on the continent next year and says despite making the move aged 28-years, he still believes he could secure a pro contract.
“Obviously I am that bit older, but I’ve graduated from college now and while some people are going traveling or backpacking, I’m going to France to race; that’s how I look at it.”
The affable Dubliner said while he believes international selection is a very realistic possibility, he has also not ruled out finding a pro team that would take him onto its payroll.
“There’s no doubt it’s tough to make that move, but if I could find a team that would take me on; take me into a paid position in their set-up, I feel I would love to do that and would be capable of it.”
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Walsh, a qualified barrister from Clontarf, moves to France next year where he will ride for Apoge Super U Cycliste near Bordeaux. He’ll join fellow Irishman Aaron Buggle, who’s moving from UV Aube to the team.
Walsh went to UCD where he graduated with a degree in economics, before going on to study law at Kings Inn in Dublin. He graduated from there in October 2010 and decided to race full time in Ireland for a year.
He came to cycling relatively late, having played soccer for a number of teams including Bohemians U18.
His first Ras was in 2010, when he said his inexperience let him down.
“I was sitting too far back in the bunch with a lot of crashes happening, that sort of thing.”
Having raced full time and trained harder in preparation for the 2011 season, his results have been a lot more solid and have convinced him that racing abroad may bring up him on to another level.
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“I put in a solid winter’s training last year but I suppose I was as surprised as everyone else when I made the winning move in the Des Hanlon. I was out sprinted at the end and finished fifth.”
Top ten finishes in the Jazzer Wherity Criterium and Ben McKenna Memorial were followed by solid results in the Ras Mumhan and third place in the Noel Hammond Memorial, before later in the year finishing third in the Ballinrobe Two-Day.
He also spent June and July riding with the Jetfuel team in Canada
“I raced some great races with them including Milwaukee Superweek. I had a decent result placed 6th against professional opposition in South Shore Classic and helped a team mate win the following day.”
But it was the An Post Ras in May that offered the strongest indication that he may be able to compete well at a much higher level.
“I found myself surprisingly comfortable when the race was at its hardest – on selective climbs and crosswinds. I finished up 23rd overall. I was second placed county rider behind Adam Armstrong and 4th placed Irish rider behind Downey, McCann and Armstrong.”
Walsh believes with some good continental racing in his legs before next year’s event that he can push into the top 20, “maybe higher”.
“I sat down at the end of the season and realised how far I had come in one year. I made the decision to give it another year. I am 28 years old so I don’t really have a four or five year plan. My plan is to evaluate my progress at the end of the season and make a smart decision from there.”
“The idea to go and race in France grew from chatting with Siobhan Horgan about her experiences racing abroad. Siobhan and her husband John gave a list of names and from that I got in touch with Apoge Super U Cycliste.”
“The Ras is still a big goal for me next season so hopefully I can improve on last year’s performance.”
Walsh (far left) riding for JetFuel in Canada during the summer
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