Darragh Byrne (AS Villemur Cyclisme) may still be just 16-years-old but the Co Wexford teenager has already notched up considerable international racing experience after competing as an U16 in Spain last year - "full mountain stage races" - and in France this season as a junior.
However, this weekend he was back on home roads and that work he has done abroad, much of it quietly and out of sight, was clear to see. On Saturday the first-year junior won the C3 race at the Lucan Grand Prix in Co Meath, followed by another win on Sunday, in the C3 race at the Galway Classic.
On Monday, having been bumped up a category, he lined out in the C1-C2 Bobby Power Memorial, taking 2nd in the C2 category, having been away in the breakaway for most of the race. Byrne told stickybottle he was delighted with how things had gone, adding racing in France in the first two weekends of the season was "an unreal experience".
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"Last year I was away for a lot of the season in Spain so I got a lot of experience there," he said. "But for the first races of this season, to be in France, it was tough. The level over there is unbelievable.
"But with every race the legs felt even better, though there was a bit of bad luck with crashes and stuff. I've gained so much confidence racing over there. Even (positioning) in the bunch, it doesn't really matter that much here, but with the level over there you're always on the gas. It gives you that little boost when you come home."
Byrne, who came up through Gorey Cycling Club, is currently in school at Gorey Community College, meaning he will travel back and forth to race in France in coming months. He will then spend summer there once the academic year is over.
His plan for the year is simple - winning as much as he can at home and securing results in France as he gets used to the standard there and the intensity of racing, often in events with 200 riders.
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He would also love to be selected for the Irish team this year. "It's something I'd really, really like. But it just have to play it by race," he said.
Galway Classic and Lucan GP
On Sunday he won the Galway Classic after some drama. A malfunctioning rear derailleur forced a bike change at the end of the opening lap, and a 15km solo chase to get back to the breakaway. And in the sprint for victory at the end of the race he unclipped from his pedal but managed to hold on.
He pulled clear on the opening lap of the 63km race in a breakaway group that was never caught. As well as Byrne, that group included: Diarmuid Collins (Newcastle West CC), Fionn Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial), Ciaran O'Sullivan (Greenmount CA) and Charlie Kelly (Velo Performance Racing Team).
The group whittled down to four and just before the finish Byrne went early and managed to hold off Killeen, with the winner and runner-up finishing on the same time. Collins was 3rd at six seconds with O'Sullivan 4th at 11 seconds. Rónán Mac Con Iomaire (Gaeltacht.cc) was 5th at 1:52, while Velo Performance's Kelly claimed 6th at 2:16.
In Saturday's Lucan GP, Byrne was away in a breakaway for much of the race until it was caught with just over a lap remaining. However, he was soon up the road again, in a two-man move with Fionn Killeen, though the Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial unfortunately suffered cramp, which cost him his place at the front.
With Byrne left leading the race solo deep into the final lap, Sean Fitzpatrick got across to him, leaving the former Gorey CC club mates out front to fight for the victory. Byrne went early in the sprint and though Fitzpatrick came back at him strongly, Byrne managed to win it.
Fran Brannigan (Cycologist) was 3rd with George Sevastopulo (Sundrive Track Team) 4th, Dan Lane (Dan Morrissey-Pissei) 5th and Michael Bolton (Clontarf CC) 6th.
