Seth Dunwoody concedes with a chuckle that last season “was perfect, in my opinion, to be honest”. But he is not getting carried away, saying last year’s success brings more team resources for him in 2026, but also higher expectations and probably being more closely marked by his rivals.
The Co Armagh teenager, who started with Orchard CC in Ireland, is competing again this year for the U23 team, Bahrain Victorious Development. But already he is booked in to ride for the World Tour squad, including over the cobbles this spring in Belgium, as he works his way towards U23 Paris-Roubaix.
“It can be quite overwhelming for Irish riders going to Europe, as a junior or an U23,” he told stickybottle just days away from his first race of the year and having previously ridden in Europe for two seasons as a junior. “Maybe (some Irish riders are) going to Europe and sitting at the back and feeling out of place.
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“But I went into the (2025) season as an U23 thinking ‘I belong here’. It wasn't too overwhelming. It took a few races to gel with teammates, because it is a different style of racing compared to juniors. And, for sure, getting that first win was a big relief."
That victory came on the final stage of Circuit des Ardennes (2.2) in mid April. It was a stage where he worked for the team's general classification leader until about 10km to go. At that point he scrambled his win into contention and won the day from a reduced sprint and a battle royale to even get to the front.
Dunwoody had been very successful in Europe as a junior, when he rode for Cannibal B Victorious. He won seven UCI-ranked races, including E3 Saxo Classic (1.1) and two UCI Nations Cup victories. He was also Irish junior road race champion. But last year, his first in the U23 peloton, was still a big step up.
And so taking that early win was just what the doctor ordered; a confidence booster. It was followed a Giro Next Gen stage victory and a stage win at Turul Romaniei (2.2), where he won both the points and mountains classifications.
“Not that I was putting pressure on myself, but that first win did take a bit of pressure off for the rest of the year and let me really enjoy my racing," he said.
Road to U23 Roubaix, carrying experience
A top sprinter and TT rider, and an aggressive racer who can win from a breakaway, Dunwoody looks like a man for the classics. He said he and his team have worked out a more targeted schedule this year, and classics-style racing will be the order of the day in the next few months.
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"This year we're be going to be trying to actually win certain races, and the team has centred that around me at some of those races," he said of a sharper focus on key goals where he will be a team leader.
"I think it's going to be a lot harder this year to win, now that I have a few wins in the bag. Even getting in a breakaway at the likes of Giro Next Gen… that's going to be a lot harder than it was last year," he said, a reference to his stage win, from a breakaway, at the 2025 U23 Giro.
"But, for sure, I think my experience in the bunch sprints has improved. Especially towards the end of last year, my sprint was getting pretty solid. So I think the team is hopefully going to utilise that quite a bit this year."
He gets underway next Tuesday, lining out for the Bahrain Victorious World Tour team at AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia. That was something of a late call-up for the 19-year-old. He had been initially due to start his 2026 campaign at Classic Var in France on February 21st, also being called up from the U23 roster to the World Tour line-up.
"It's like this time last year, I'm stepping up a level again,” said of racing in Saudi next week. “And I could go there and it could be a completely different style of racing. I'm aware of that. And the team could be asking me completely different things.
“But I'm going to it to gain experience. I'm not going there to win races, you know? This wasn't in the plan, it's last minute, but it's a good opportunity and it will be exciting. It'll be a good trip."
He has other appointments with the World Tour line-up in his schedule for the spring, including in semi classics in Belgium. And that "classics heavy" programme will continue for him up to U23 Paris Roubaix, on April 12th. That race is a goal in the spring and he was 12th in the junior version in 2024.
So how does he feel compared to this time last year, especially after a solid winter split between Australia, team camps in Altea, Spain, and home roads in Armagh?
"I don't think I've seen a big change in the numbers, to be honest, but I think I know what's coming in the season ahead," he said, adding the winter went very well and he is now carrying forward an invaluable year of experience in 2025.
"I know now that it's a mighty long season and you can't come into it flying on all cylinders. This season is going to have ups and downs (in form) for sure. But now I'm expecting them, and it's about knowing when to have them. I have a bit of peace of mind going into the season. I know what's coming, I can prepare properly."
