Nolan's hectic schedule between college terms on pro scene in Europe

*Seán Nolan has been in Europe cramming in U23 and pro cyclocross races during his Christmas break from college; the Meath man following a pack racing schedule (All photos by Martine Verfaillie)*

Seán Nolan has given up his Christmas at home in Co Meath with family and friends for a couple of weeks alone in a house in Belgium riding the European cyclocross scene.

The 20-year-old, who is studying at university but also riding for Continental team EvoPro Racing, is staying at the team house in Aalter and getting as much racing in as he can during his brief break from college.

Indeed, he left for Europe immediately term ended and will remain there until the end of the first week in January. At that point he will return to Ireland for the National Cyclocross Championships.

And once those races are completed in Armagh City on January 9th, Nolan is straight back into college to sit exams; something he must prepare for while racing abroad over this Christmas and New Year period.

His latest event took place yesterday, St Stephen's Day, at Dendermonde U23 World Cup in Belgium. The young Irishman placed 45th and was disappointed as he was stopped going out to complete the last lap.

He missed out on that final circuit as he was just off the back of the last group that was waved through the start-finish area to go and complete their race.

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"It was OK," he said when asked how the day had gone. "It was pretty muddy, so it was bike changes once a lap.

"I finished 45th and I was a bit disappointed as I was just pulled out on the last lap by a few seconds. I was gaining on four or five guys just ahead. The next race now for me is the X2O Trofee Loenhout on December 30th."

Last weekend he rode Rucphen Elite World Cup in the Netherlands and Namur U23 World Cup in Belgium, placing 54th and 44th; the races won by Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and and U23 world champion Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions).

While Nolan has opted for a racing holiday period this year, he had already been traveling to Europe to race in recent months during weekend trips.

He rode Telenet Superprestige Ruddervoorde in Belgium on October 23rd; placing 50th in the event won by Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal). The following day he lined out at UCI World Cup Zonhoven, placing 41st as Toon Aerts (Baloise Trek Lions) won.

The weekend after that, October 31st and November 1st, Nolan rode UCI World Cup OverijseFlag Belgium and the U12 X2O Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross. He placed 47th and 36th respectively in races won by Iserbyt and U23 world champion Ronhaar.

Three weeks later, Nolan was back in Europe - on November 20th and 21st - riding Telenet Superprestige Merksplas and UCI World Cup Koksijde, placing 43rd and 42nd; both races won by Iserbyt.