Having taken a series of road race and TT wins in recent years, including the John Haldane Memorial yesterday and Kerry Group Rás Mumhan last year, Lindsay Watson is looking to aim for some new goals this season.
The 33-year-old top A1 rider still plans to race the obvious big ones in Ireland this season - including a return to Rás Mumhan and also competing in Rás Tailteann. But he is also looking to the Gran Fondo World Championships in Glasgow in August.
The cycling Worlds this year are a new 'bigger than ever' format as all disciplines of the sport - track, road, MTB, BMX and more - are being brought together in Glasgow, where all of the world titles will be fought out at the same championships for the first time.
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Those disciplines include the Gran Fondo - a road race and TT combination - with medals in different aged-related categories down for decision. And as Watson (Powerhouse Sport) is now into his 30s, and seemingly riding better than ever, he wants to go to the Worlds, especially one so close to home this year.
But first, that win in the Newry Wheelers race on Sunday. Watson managed to get across to a group of just over a dozen riders after it broke clear. He bridged the 20-second gap solo. And with just over two laps, of six, of the 17.2km course remaining, he then broke clear with Gareth O'Neill (PB Performance).
While they committed to the task, the chasing group almost caught them. However, the gap then went out again, only for Mitchell McLaughlin (All human-VeloRevolution) and Pete McLean (Velo Café Magasin) to get across to Watson and O'Neill.
"The four of use worked well until about the last half lap and then we started to sit on, to save the legs," Watson said of cat and mouse setting in as the chequered flag was nearing.
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"And that's when I took the opportunity to attack; go long with about 750 metres to a kilometre to go. I had the tailwind behind me; went on my own and I held them off. I was traveling at a half decent speed in the 54x11 and I just horsed it on with the head down."
Looking further ahead this season, Watson said the next big goal was Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, though he was not entirely hung up on repeating his stage 1, and then overall, victory of last year.
"As much as I'd love to win it again, I've already ticked that box," he said. "I'm still not sure who I'm riding for or what the plans are but I'll there. And I'll be more than happy to support somebody else. At the same time, given the opportunity, I will of course try and defend it."
Rás Tailteann was also a race he would "like a result in" and the Gran Fondo Worlds are already on his mind.
"I plan to go to the Tour of Cambridgeshire to try and qualify for the Gran Fondo Worlds in August," he confirmed, referring to the Cambridgeshire Gran Fondo, which will be part of Britain's 'biggest festival of cycling' in early June.
"It's just something different to do. There's a time trial and a road race (in Cambridgeshire) and the top 20 per cent qualify for the Worlds. So I just thought it would be something different. And with the Worlds being on my doorstep, as part of main World Championships in Glasgow, this is the year to do it.
"There's actually quite a few (Irish riders) going," he said of young elite riders and masters road racers. "I was at a Cycling Ulster training day a couple of weeks ago and I just mentioned it and everybody was saying 'oh, I'm going to'. So there's a good few going, there'll be a good Irish contingent."
