Peter Hawkins conquers Divis Mountain in the Bob Crilly Memorial in June (Photo: Marian Lamb – Cycling Ulster)
By Brian Canty
Peter Hawkins has become the latest Irish rider to finalise his plans for next season, revealing today that he has re-signed with UK Continental team IG Sigma Sport for 2013.
Hawkins has enjoyed a stellar year in his maiden season on the UK circuit, posting a number of podium finishes while also riding the Tour of Britain with distinction last month.
Though he had received offers from other teams after the latter week-long race, he decided it was best for him to stay right where he is.
“The lads here were quite keen to keep me,” said Hawkins.
“I had a good season and particularly during the Tour of Britain they made it clear to me that they wanted to keep me on board. They upped their offer from what I had been on this year so that obviously helped too. They’ve looked after me very well and I’ve been happy with how I’ve fitted into the team and how it’s all been. I wasn’t completely decided before the Tour of Britain that I’d stay but I had a good idea that I would.”
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Indeed, with some more funding for the team in the pipeline and the prospect of an expanded European race programme, he said he’s hoping to now push on from this year and turn some near misses into winning races.
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“I want to be getting some really good results in the UK,” he told stickybottle.
“I had quite a few top fives and podiums this year in big races, so if I could turn one of those into a win it would be great. I think I want to be looking at winning Premier Calendar races too. With the team I’ve got, I think we’ve a bit of firepower when it comes to those races so I’m looking to really make an impact there. I think we should be doing more of a full European programme too so we’ll see. Hopefully we’ll get into a few 2.2 races in France and Belgium. I’d like to be really making an impact there as well.”
The team has already suffered a blow with the news that former FBD Insurance Rás winner Simon Richardson has decided to end his career but there are some “top guys” being mooted as possible replacements.
“Nothing has been made official yet but I know there are going to be some changes. There are a couple of guys coming in, some really good top guys from the UK scene so that’ll be good for next year.”
“Simon did play quite a big role in the team the last couple of years. He’s been in the team since we’ve been a UCI team so he’s a big loss.”
Hawkins has ridden in Belgium for several seasons in the past but reasoned the style of the British racing suits him better and he’s glad to be where he is now.
“I think the British racing seems to suit me a bit better. The Belgian races are very fast and very aggressive and it’s about having raw power and going and going, but the English racing is a bit more selective. It’s a bit more like Irish racing, just maybe a level higher and it suits me more. I was definitely in better shape last year (2012) than the previous year and I would’ve liked to have seen what I could have done in Belgium if I had the form that I had here last year but being in a UCI team, I can’t actually ride the amateur races in Belgium anymore.”
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