Following on from a track season which included regular participation at the Hoy Future Stars League as part of the overall Revolution Track Series in the colours of the famous Team Sky, Banbridge CC’s Shenna McKiverigan is showing signs that her road legs are still very much active and with a little fine tuning could start to produce more remarkable results which many are now used to hearing when referring to the young Gilford lady.
With a recent podium finish at the latest round of the National Women’s League in Bohermeen which finished in a bunch sprint behind International Paracycling Pilot and World Championship Silver medalist Eve McCrystal and fellow prodigy Ciara Doogan of Donegal, Shenna has obviously kept plenty of speed in the legs following the fast action of the track racing. However being able to compete in that sprint following a tough road race indicates the endurance element isn’t too shabby either. Barring a broken spoke in the final 2 km of the previous weeks Women’s National League at the Neenagh Classic it looked like she’d also be competing for the sprint after 80km having been competitive at the front all day among the country’s top lady cyclists.
It hasn’t taken long for Sheena McKiverigan to convert her track speed onto some solid road results. (Photo © Sean Rowe)
While Shenna’s showing that she’s adapted some of the skills found in bunch racing on the track and can hold her own in the sprints against more experienced riders, she isn’t simply leaving it at that. After only a few of the opening Time Trial events on the calendar she’s also managed to knock 2 minutes off her PB over 10 miles. Try finding 1 minute over 10 miles, never mind 2. The road form is almost certainly simmering and ready to come to the boil.
Performances in the colours of Team Sky grabbed the attention of GB coaches earning Shenna a monthly visit to Manchester Velodrome, worth it’s weight in gold.
The 2015 road season looks longer than previous years with an early start and late finish, but Shenna has accelerated to cruising speed while managing her studies. While maintaining the monthly track sessions in Manchester Velodrome and given the summer college break with extra time available for training and sufficient rest the the after burners could well kick in for a very exciting second half of the season. So, while her club mates on the men’s scene may be stealing many of the recent results headlines, don’t be surprised to see this young lady step up to claim her own limelight as the road season progresses.
