The Coffee Ride #117, with Reece Homfray
YOUNG Australian Damien Howson has been rewarded for his enormous contribution to Orica-BikeExchange’s Grand Tour success this year with a two-year contract extension.
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TWO-YEAR DEAL FOR WORKHORSE HOWSON
YOUNG Australian Damien Howson has been rewarded for his enormous contribution to Orica-BikeExchange’s Grand Tour success this year with a two-year contract extension.
The 24-year-old joined the team as a stagiaire in 2013 having been under-23 time trial world champion and has worked on his climbing to become one of Esteban Chaves’ most important lieutenants in his quest to win a Grand Tour.
Howson has worked for Chaves at the Vuelta a Espana last year where he was fifth, the Giro d’Italia where he was second and the Vuelta this month where he finished third.
He earned widespread praise for his performance on Stage 20 on the weekend when he got in the breakaway then stopped to wait for Chaves who attacked the peloton with the support of his teammates, then towed him on a 30km time trial to get the Colombian back on the podium.
“It must have been a good spectacle for everyone watching,” Howson told News Corp.
“Often bike racing can be predictable — a breakaway goes, it either comes back or it doesn’t, but numerous times in this Grand Tour not only our team but others have picked their day and really thrown the cat among the pigeons.
“Saturday was one of those days when everyone knew the course and what we were fighting for and just laid it all out there.
“Whether it worked or not we could go home knowing we tried everything and it was even better knowing he (Chaves) had taken that step onto the podium.
“It (partnership) all started last year and now it’s just a matter of building on it. He’s consistently improving and myself also within my role.”
Sunday was the third Grand Tour Howson has finished in his pro career and asked how he felt physically, he said “it’s all relative”.
“The last three Grand Tours I’ve done I’ve finished the same way,” he said.
“But the amount I’ve been able to contribute has increased, so it all goes hand-in-hand, and that’s the direction I’d like to keep heading.”
Howson said he was thrilled to have been offered a two-year deal to remain with OBE and Chaves.
“I don’t have experience in any other team but this is definitely special,” he said.
“It’s a great environment off the bike and when everyone puts their head and legs together during the race, it’s just a matter of trying and more often than not we pull off success.
“So it’s a huge privilege to be part of.
“It would be very hard to find an environment like this so for me it was a no-brainer to stay. I’m really happy to continue my own progression and be part of something special.
“I’m always realistic with what I can achieve. I set these goals and steps to take along the way, so far I’ve managed to take those so it’s always a positive and hopefully it can continue.”
Howson will now turn his attention to some one-day racing in Italy including the Giro di Lombardia but the rest of his season is unknown and he is only an outside chance for a call up to ride the TTT at the world championships.
WILLOUGHBY REMAINS STABLE IN HOSPITAL
AUSTRALIA’S top male BMX rider Sam Willoughby remains in a stable condition in a US hospital and is having tests following surgery after a training crash on the weekend.
Cycling Australia is still waiting for an update on Willoughby’s injuries after he crashed on the track at Chula Vista in San Diego on Sunday.
The Adelaide 25-year-old was airlifted to hospital by helicopter where it was decided he would undergo surgery, but details of his injuries are yet to be confirmed.
He was conscious and his parents have flown to the US to be with him.
The BMX and cycling community has rallied around Willoughby by providing support on social media.
Prayers ðŸ™ðŸ½ and strength for @SW91 & @alisepost11 and family. pic.twitter.com/zljW2YNloa
— Mike King (@mike_king12) September 12, 2016
Thoughts with you Big Guy @SW91 Get Better as quick as your ride mate xx https://t.co/hx5bQ9xFSa
— Anna Meares (@AnnaMeares) September 12, 2016
Willoughby is an Olympic silver medallist from London in 2012 and was sixth in the men’s final in Rio just last month.
He later revealed he had been racing with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee which he had injured six months earlier.
Willoughby was crowned world champion in 2012 and 2014 and was preparing for the final world cups and remainder of the US season when he crashed on the weekend.
AUSSIES SHINE IN BRITAIN
WHILE a lot of focus was on the Vuelta a Espana’s thrilling climax on the weekend, Australians were also winning at the Tour of Britain.
BMC’s Rohan Dennis won Stage 7 and finished second overall while Orica-BikeExchange’s Caleb Ewan won the final Stage 8 in London.
The race also marked the next step in Rob Power’s return from a knee injury which had stalled the start of his neo-pro season with OBE.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK ...
“I don’t get the same buzz out of racing that I used to and the sport is too hard and competitive to do if you’re not jumping out of your skin to get on the start line at every opportunity.”
- Milan-San Remo winner Matt Goss after announcing his retirement from professional cycling.
“In the commentary yesterday Ian Maher said I couldn’t climb over a cherry nut so I wanted to prove him wrong, and I think the leader’s jersey gives you super powers.”
- Rebecca Wiasak after back-to-back stage wins helped her secure the 2016 Amy’s Otway Tour.
“It was a big day all round, three wins yesterday it was probably our best day ever as a team.”
- Orica-BikeExchange team owner Gerry Ryan on his team winning three races in three countries on Sunday.
“For me you can either play the defensive game and possibly win or you can go on the offensive and risk more but if you pull it off it feels more special.”
- Rohan Dennis after finishing second in the Tour of Britain after a big week of racing.
TWEET, TWEET
Woke up this morning and thought it was a dream, but I've still got… https://t.co/5sC8TkTS5E
— David Nicholas (@DavidNicholas91) September 10, 2016
— Dave Nichols wins gold in the C3 3000m IP at the Rio Paralympics.
Originally published as The Coffee Ride #117, with Reece Homfray
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