UCD CC rider Joseph Breheny is spending the winter months training and racing in sunny Australia. Taking full advantage of having an uncle in Perth, the 26 year-old is honing his form for the new season by competing against some of the best riders in the country, and not faring too badly at all.
By Brian Canty
Irish rider Joseph Breheny has taken an excellent result in Australia, finishing sixth in a high-quality criterium in Perth.
The UCD CC man is in the city of his birth for an extended period of training and racing this winter as he escapes the harsh Irish weather.
He is also opting to go full-time on the bike in advance of next season.
The 26 year-old chemistry graduate had his best year yet in 2015 but believes there’s more to come. And if his most recent result is anything to go by it’s hard to argue with him.
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In the field for the Yanchep crit last weekend was Cam Meyer of WorldTour team Orica-GreenEDGE, as well as a host of the top teams from the National Road Series (NRS).
Breheny didn’t allow some big reputations faze him as he lined up for the race that had a first prize of $7,500, or just under €5,000.
Though he did target that handsome bounty, his best chance of taking home some cash was probably the $500 on offer for the first non-NRS rider.
Breheny escaped in the first break of the day, following two men who had gone up the road before the trio was joined by a fourth rider.
They pulled out a maximum lead of 20 seconds but with Meyer not there, a hard pace was set from behind and they were eventually reeled in.
As the laps ticked down over the course of the 45-minute affair, Breheny stayed in touch with the leaders.
Breheny is riding as a guest of the OTOC Vault Racing Team from Perth and competes against some of the fastest men in Australia. On the far right is multiple Grand Tour stage winner Cam Meyer of Orica-GreenEDGE.
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“I pushed on as close to my limit as I could manage without blowing, constantly telling myself that I was being caught by a group behind,” he explained.
One nasty drag on the course made life difficult and it was here that much of the damage was done.
“Tackling the drag on your own at this stage in the race was punishing, especially in such hot conditions," he added in refence to the temperatures in mid 30s.
He said the crowd was willing him on as lapped riders were pulled out until only seven starters remained.
“The commentator gave me the nickname ‘The Flying Irishman’ for making it into the two breaks of the day," he added.
He eventually finished 6th after 26 laps and took the non-NRS prize from the event.
“I was totally delighted with the result," he said. "I'd planned to come out and at the very least take home the non-NRS riders pot, if not the main one.”
Breheny is staying with his uncle in Perth who has lived there for the last 40 years, while he’s linked up with the OTOC Vault Racing Team from the city.
“I just want to put in a solid block of warm-weather training, considering how bad the alternative of training in the cold wet weather back home is,” he said.
“I just finished my postgraduate degree in chemistry in UCD and wanted to give full-time bike riding a go while I still have time on my side.
“The last few years have also seemed quite hectic with balancing research, training and racing so I was also looking for a break from it all, and what better place than sunny Perth.
“I just feel that I’ve a lot more to give of myself in races, to the team and contributing towards results.
"And coming here to train full-time will hopefully help me to reach new levels and see how far I can get with cycling.”
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