Fiona Mangan has had a big season, by far the most successful in her still fledgling racing career. The Limerick woman won both the road race and TT titles at the National Road Championships - from the strongest group of riders ever assembled - before being picked for the World Championships.
And it was during those Worlds in Zurich last month when she perhaps realised how far she had come. Though feeling mixed emotions after the race, being selected and finishing was an incredible achievement for someone still working, as a biomedical engineer.
"When I received the email, at first glance, I was saying to myself 'this is going to say you've not been selected'," she told stickybottle of Cycling Ireland's message confirming her Worlds debut in Zurich. "When I saw that I'd been selected. I was going 'oh my God, they believe in me, and I'm actually going.'"
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Mangan said, as there were so few spots available on the Worlds team, and the group of Irish women was now so strong, she was "honoured" to be selected. And mixing with all the Irish teams - juniors, U23s and male elites - was an experience she clearly enjoyed.
"I got to spend time with everyone over the week. And that's when I realised how we are so privileged to be here and to be representing Ireland. Barry Monaghan did a speech midweek and I was nearly crying during it," she laughed.
"And he was my DS for Rás na mBan and for the Europeans, so I was really happy he was our DS for the Worlds too. It really felt quite special. And even being at meals with Eddie Dunbar and Ben Healy, Archie Ryan, all of them… It made me feel 'this is an elite group'. And I really tried to make the most of it."
Mangan's parents, grandparents and boyfriend also made the trip out, as did a lot of members of her home club, Greenmount Cycling Academy.
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"On the warm-up the day, there was already so many Irish people out, so many Irish flags," she said of the huge Irish support. "And then on race day, I couldn't believe the amount of Irish people on the course, the amount of fans. Honestly they got me through day."
She said at one point when she was in a small group and had about 60 to 70 kilometers to go, the shouts from the roadside from the Irish fans really kept her going because so many people had come to support the team.
"When I crossed over the line myself and Alison Jackson started sprinting in the group, and we were laughing at each other that we took on the sprint and that we'd finished, we were just happy."
Mangan got over the longest climb on the course - on the large lap before the Zurich circuit - and said she did so comfortably, even though many riders were jettisoned out the back. When the race hit the circuit, she suffered on the main climb, and then the drag that immediately followed saw her slip off the back.
Though she got into a group and they were off the back of the team cars for all of the next lap, they were unable to get back on. Mangan eventually finished 65th, in a group some 21:05 down on winner Lotte Kopecky (Belgium).
That evening, Mangan said she replayed the race in her head and felt disappointment, but those around her reminded her it was her first Worlds.
"I suffered for 4½ hours, but I wasn't able to suffer enough at that moment when I got dropped," she said. "But that's just me being hard on myself, I think.
"But if I'd been able to suffer a bit more, just for those crucial few hundred metres, I would have been able to stay for much longer with the group. But the level is so high. And I think I need to be realistic about where I am now."
