With a steady stream of young Irish riders having either broken into the pro peloton, or currently shaping up that way, a new name was thrown into the mix at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Maribor, Slovenia, yesterday; Conor Murphy.
The Co Louth teenager won silver in the boys' TT, becoming only the second Irish rider - after Lara Gillespie also took silver in the TT six years ago - to claim a cycling medal at a Youth Olympics. And while it is early days yet in the U16 rider's career, his performance looks like the first sign he has the level to go far.
There were signs before now, of course; national title wins and a victory at the British Cyclocross National Trophy Series last December. However, yesterday's field was of a different order - a truly international start list of 89 riders - and the Irish youngster was beaten by only one; gold medal winner Gijs Schoonvelde (Netherlands).
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After his medal win, Murphy was given a hero's welcome by the Irish team - made up of youth athletes across all sports. The man of the moment was clearly delighted with his medal.
“It feels amazing, I can’t really believe it to be honest," he said. "The course was pan-flat and a case of just going as hard as you could. I really wasn’t expecting it, I was hoping top 25-ish, and I just came over the line and I couldn’t believe what the man on the mic was saying."
Murphy continued: “I realised I was catching the guy in front (for one minute). I was marking points on the course, so when I came around, I could see the time closing down, 50, 40 (seconds) and I was getting really close at the end and I was really happy. I was just thinking, 'just get it done now'. The legs were burning, just try and finish as strong as I could.
Coached by former A1 rider turned triathlete, Bryan McCrystal, Murphy normally excels on the mountain bike and in cyclocross, but clearly has an engine for the road too.
“Bryan’s been great to me giving me advice for the time trial, I can’t thank him enough has really helped me, he even lent me his bike for the race," Murphy said of McCrystal. "I think everyone will be pretty proud in Louth now.
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"I’m in disbelief now but I think I will believe it when I get it in my hands and see it hanging on the wall at home. It’s a nice way to start the week, we will just give it a go on the mountain bike tomorrow.”
Team Ireland effort
David Gaffney and Philip O’Connor also represented Ireland in the boys' TT, finishing 18th and 43rd respectively. In the girls' race against the clock, Kate Murphy (Sliabh Luachra CC) finished 27th and Greta Lawless was 40th.
“I was happy enough with it, it was really wet. When the race got delayed I had to warm up twice, and I was just ready for it when it came, and I just went for it, so am happy enough," said Murphy.
Dubliner Lawless said: “It was a good start, I kept it under control for the first half and then it started lashing with rain, I could see the storm coming. The second half I picked it up again, but just as I was finishing the storm came in.”
Dungarvan’s David Gaffney said: “I felt good going around, it was a fairly flat course, you had to be cautious going around the corners, you didn’t want to fall! I was happy with the outcome and am ready for the road race on Thursday.”
Gort's Philip O’Connor said: “I started fairly hard and tried to settle into a rhythm, there wasn’t too much of a wind so I’m happy enough.”
