Out of Dungarvan Cycling Club, Aoife O'Donovan was a among a group of juniors making their debut for Team Ireland in the take-no-prisoners world of UCI Cyclocross World Cup racing.
The 16-year-old, who has been building a reputation for herself on road and mud, battled to 28th place, in the junior women's race at the Sport Ireland Campus in Abbottstown. And though she clearly hoped for more, she is now an international rider and looking for more experiences.
O'Donovan won the U16 road race and criterium at the Youth National Road Championships this year. And already in the 'cross season she has won the men's B race on 'Round 2' of the Munster Cyclocross Series and has been 2nd twice in the elite races at the National Cyclocross Series
"I was really nervous, but it's a good achievement," she replied when asked by stickybottle how it felt to make her international debut, especially at a UCI World Cup on home turf.
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"I only started 'cross last year, I don't think I've even done 10 races yet. It's a wicked big step up and today was just not may day at all," she added, though accepting that can happen in cycling and that she will also have good days when she needs them.
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"It was wicked tough, and fast from the start," she added of the junior women's race. "There was a couple of crashes at the start and then I was back a bit (in the field). And then, on a day, I felt I was not going great and when you get that in your head, it's just…. it can get worse."
However, after reflecting a bit more, O'Donovan - who has only just stepped into the junior ranks - said she was happy with how her cyclocross season had gone and to make it into the national team set-up as quickly as she has.
"I did 'cross at the start of the New Year after a road season," she explained of starting the discipline mid way through last season.
"It was good to get on the (Ireland) team and I've gotten some races in. And today was a good down out, it's a great team, everything they do (for you), it's a very good experience."
Looking ahead to the remainder of the cyclocross season, and next year's road campaign, O'Donovan said she was looking to make as much progress as she possibly could in both disciplines.
"I'll hopefully go up from here," she said of cyclocross, having banked such invaluable experience yesterday and been introduced to major international racing. And I'm hoping to do a big road season as well, with Munster and Dungarvan."
