Dean Harvey loved a really robust Dornan Rás Mumhan however now begins the worldwide season for the Trinity Racing rider, who competes in U23 Paris Roubaix this weekend (Picture: Caroline Kerley)
Dean Harvey has made progress each season since his junior days and commenced his 2024 street season with a really robust experience – successful the queen stage at Dornan Rás Mumhan. Nevertheless, now in his second 12 months with the Trinity Racing Continental workforce, final weekend’s hit out at residence was solely a curtain-raiser for issues to return.
Harvey (21) will this Sunday line out in U23 Paris Roubaix, saying he was in his finest form ever after an excellent winter. Having beforehand stated he received the season he wanted final 12 months, maybe not the one he wished, he goes into his worldwide programme of racing a 12 months stronger, and way more skilled.
Forward of Sunday’s massive showdown – “it’s at all times been a race that stood out to me” – Harvey stated a brand new alternative with Biking Eire throughout the winter, coupled with a change in the best way his cyclocross season mixed together with his street commitments, means he now feels in his finest form ever.
“It was the primary time I had a December camp in winter with Biking Eire,” Harvey stated of coaching in Calpe in southern Spain for 2 weeks. “I at all times reply effectively after massive quantity.
“Then the street season beginning a bit later suited my schedule higher with cyclocross. So it gave me extra time to arrange for the beginning of the street season after cross, as a substitute going straight from one to the opposite.”
Dean Harvey sprints to the road for victory on stage 3 at Rás Mumhan – on Kerryman’s Desk – simply forward of Jamie Meehan (Picture: Caroline Kerley)
Whereas Harvey gained the Irish cyclocross title once more this 12 months – proving finest in Limerick in mid January – and likewise competed within the Worlds within the Czech Republic in early February, final weekend’s Rás Mumhan was his first main street race of the season.
And he believes that hole, of just about two months, between critical ‘cross and street competitors has created a greater alternative to prepared himself for the lengthy street marketing campaign forward. He’ll begin on the deep finish, in opposition to a really aggressive discipline on the pavé of northern France this weekend.
Nevertheless, whereas he’ll face rivals for the riders who kind among the finest World Tour-linked improvement groups within the sport, he believes the 5 levels of motion in Kerry over Easter have been excellent preparation.
Whereas they have been bodily difficult – particularly as Harvey took on loads of work to defend his workforce mate Luke Tuckwell’s yellow jersey – he says the temper within the Trinity Racing camp is on a excessive.
Harvey have ridden the cyclocross Worlds in February, and gained the nationals a month earlier, however he stated the lengthy break between critical ‘cross race and the beginning of his street season correct final weekend has helped him into higher form (Picture: Toby Watson)
The workforce gained two of the 5 levels – with Harvey and Joe Pidcock – and claimed the general, factors and younger rider classifications with Tuckwell.
“I’m actually pleased with how Rás Mumhan went,” Harvey confirmed. “It was a extremely enjoyable and profitable weekend for me and the workforce. It helps lots with the motivation going ahead into the season, and it exhibits that my winter preparation has put me in my finest form ever for this 12 months.”
He additionally stated he was actually wanting ahead to U23 Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, the place he hopes his situation and his abilities will stand him in good stead.
“Coming from an off-road background, it’s at all times been a race that stood out to me, particularly if the climate isn’t excellent,” he stated. “I’ll go in with an open thoughts and see what occurs.
“Will probably be an essential race for the workforce, and for me to hopefully begin my European racing season in a powerful method.”