David Montgomery says the level of European cyclocross racing is a huge step up but he is prepared for the challenge (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)
David Montgomery on Sunday endured an action packed Bpost Bank Trofee Koppenbergcross in Belgium but appears to be revelling in riding against top foreign opposition in the European cyclocross peloton.
The combined U23 and elite national champion is not the first Irish rider to jump into the international cyclocross scene.
But the path to that section of the sport is nowhere near as well trodden as that leading to the road racing peloton on the Continent.
Montgomery is currently in the middle of a month-long stint of racing based in Belgium, with the European Championships next weekend in Holland now firmly in his sights.
In his latest outing on Sunday he came home in 36th place; a very respectable ride considering he is still searching for race fitness and a couple of mishaps that came his way.
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Montgomery looks fixed on the task at hand and sounds determined to learn all he can in Belgium (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)
“I got a good start and held the position well,” said the man who blitzed the field in Swords, north Dublin, in January to take his first elite crown.
“But there was a big squeeze into a tight corner down a hill halfway round the first lap and another lad managed to get his front skewer stuck in my rear disc brake.
“So we stood there trying to wedge it out again as about 30 riders came by.”
Montgomery added when he restarted the field was very spread out and it would have been impossible to get back close to the front.
He battled on and around 40 minutes into the race he believed his race was about to end prematurely when the on-course commentator announced ‘you’re race is over’.
Montgomery said he assumed the commissaires were pulling riders out and that he was among those about to be stopped from going out onto the last lap.
Because of that he decided to forego changing to a clean bike in the pits around 500 metres before the finish and gave it his all to the line.
But when he got there he realised the remarks over the public address system were directed at a lapped rider.
He still had a lap to complete on a bike caked in mud.
Montgomery has had assistance from a number of generous Belgian supporters including Martine Verfaillie, Hanne Wulleart and Wim Ollivier. And fellow Irishman Donal O'Brien, above, has also mucked in.
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“I lost around five to 10 places on last lap because there was just so much mud round the bike; the wheels could hardly move.
“I ended up crashing on steep slippery descent; the bike was carrying no speed as soon as I stopped pedalling.
“But it was an absolutely awesome race and it was a great course.”
Montgomery is benefitting from the hospitality and wisdom of a number of Belgians who have gotten to know a lot of Irish road riders and supported them in recent seasons.
He is staying with Belgian cycling photographer Martine Verfaillie and is supported in the pits by Hanne Wulleart and Wim Ollivier.
Irishman Donal O’Brien, who will be known to many on the Irish road racing scene, has also been assisting with Montgomery’s European odyssey.
Montgomery battles his way through the huge Belgian crowds at Bpost Bank Trofee Koppenbergcross on Sunday (Photo with many thanks to Martine Verfaillie)
“It’s very early in my season to be racing at such high level,” he said.
“The season only started in the North the week before I left. But there's no other time you could get as many races in such a short space of time.
“So on the limited budget I have; it was the best bang for my buck no matter what shape I'm in or how prepared I am.
“I’d say I’m in pretty good shape but I definitely have no high hopes over here; it’s really just learning the ropes.
“These guys are completely on the next level so the first half of the trip is really just about getting to as many races as possible, taking it as it comes and making the mistakes and learning from them.
“As I start to settle in a bit we'll get things refined and target a race or two. I’m aiming for a top 20 in a UCI race.
“That wouldn’t be a massive deal if it was a British National Trophy or in Japan or somewhere, but anyone who's anyone is in Belgium from October onwards.
“So the top 15 in any race are likely to be the top 15 in the world ranks.
“It’s really all just preparation for hopefully riding a few World Cups and World Championships closer to January, and trying to show the Irish champion’s jersey around a bit when I have the chance.”
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