English, second from right, at a press conference in Taiwan with Rapha Condor-Sharp
Felix English has said while the Tour of Taiwan was a hot affair with tough climbs on some of the stages, he achieved his objective of getting through what was the biggest stage race of his career to date and emerged in good shape.
The Irish road and track international showed his sprinting kick in the UCI 2.1 seven-day when he managed to get a top ten placing by mixing it in the bunch gallop on the opening 52km stage in Taipei City.
“It was a very wet stage, not that warm, and had lots of potentially dangerous tight corners - my favourite,” he told stickybottle.
“A break of six slipped away but I managed to get top ten on the stage, sprinting with the likes of Sebastian Haedo of Saxo Bank and Ferrari of Androni.”
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(The Rapha Condor-Sharp rider was fourth in the bunch sprint, taking 10th on the stage.)
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“The following stages became hillier and generally tougher for me,” said English on his return from Taiwan yesterday, Saturday.
“My sole aim was to finish the full seven stages so I worked on looking after myself within the bunch and then limiting the damage on the climbs when I was dropped from the front group.”
“The last two days were exceptionally hot with temperatures reaching the mid 30's. The final day I tried my luck at getting in the early moves, but with 49km covered in the first hour it made life very tough and I ended up riding within the bunch until the finish.”
“My team mate Ben Grenda was close to a podium on a few of the days. But his and Deano’s (Downing) chances were scuppered on the final day with a crash in the last kilometre.”
English eventually finish 80th overall, 20:32 down on GC winner Rhys Pollock (Drapac Cycling); the Australian who rode the An Post Ras last year. The race finished last Friday in Kaohsiung City.
English said he was looking forward to the weeks ahead, having now ridden his first 2.1 and taken part in some of the pre-race press conferences for the team in Taipei.
“It’s onwards and upwards now. The Dengie Marshes Premier Calendar is my next race in two weeks.”
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