Oisin O’Callaghan has spoken of his bitter disappointment over the circumstances of his World MTB Championships ride in Italy at the weekend, when the Irish rider was deposed as junior downhill champion.
The Limerick teenager – who won the world title in
Austria last October – was fastest in qualifying at the 2021 Worlds last Friday
in Val di Sole. He went into the final on Sunday as a red hot favourite to win
the title again.
However, having ripped down the track and been fastest at the first three time splits, he soon crashed. He was sent sprawling onto the ground but quickly remounted and still finished 5th. But having gone to Italy for gold only to see it, literally, slide away from him was a bitter pill.
The sense of might - and should - have been was only compounded when the title went to Jackson Gladstone, the Canadian rider O'Callaghan had beaten into 2nd place in qualifying.
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“I was feeling good all weekend. I knew at this level I had to push and let it hang out,” the young Irishman said of his full-on approach to the final. “It rained Saturday night so the practice on Sunday morning was almost to see how the track was riding.”
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He explained when he started his effort, everything was
going according to plan before he crashed on a section where the surfaced
changed due to the course being slightly wetter at one section coming out of a
wooded area.
“I was committed and knew I could win it so I was really
riding how I wanted to and a damp spot caused the crash as you almost left the
wooded section,” he said.
“I remember thinking ‘f**k’ and scrambled to get the bike
and keep fighting. I was coming into the finish and I could see I was in the
green for the three splits and then red so I felt the anguish and let out a
roar while still pedaling to the finish.”
However, he now turns his attention to the next round of
the World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, even though he was “seriously
disappointed” with the Worlds.
“After a few hours reflection, I know my speed and
ability is there again after some injuries and confidence was low after a
concussion this summer. Onwards and upwards to Lenzerheide next weekend.”
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