Josie Knight ready to take on the world

Though there were plenty of contenders, including Sam Bennett and Eddie Dunbar, Dingle woman Josie Knight was perhaps the breakthrough Irish cyclist of 2014.

It is totally unheard of for someone with absolutely no background in track cycling to achieve what the Dingle woman did, and that was to be enlisted on Cycling Ireland’s elite track programme and make such a phenomenal impact.

Knight, 18 since March, was earmarked for success on the road following success in the youth ranks riding for O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk.

But it’s on the track where her career has really taken off.

She was selected on the Irish team to ride the European Junior Track Championships in Portugal last summer – her debut major event.

Lining out in the individual pursuit, she blazed the fastest time of the international field in the qualifying round, making the final and only losing out on gold by a 10th of a second.

A call-up to the senior squad followed and last winter she travelled to UCI World Cups in Mexico and London, before competing in the World Championships in February this year.

It’s been a staggering rise but Cycling Ireland head coach Brian Nugent has gotten to know Knight well over the last nine months.

It was Nugent who ignored her youth and selected her for the elite team pursuit line-up for the UCI World Cup in Mexico in November.

“It was marvellous, she was in Guadalajara just watching,” he said.

“And with her, it’s a step-by-step process. You have to watch it first and feel it before you get an opportunity to race.” She was selected again for the World Cup in London a month later and displayed her racing instincts in the points race against a quality international field that didn’t overawe her.

“One of the best things to see was Josie mixing and riding with good tactical awareness against world champions,” Nugent reflected.

“I’ve not seen many people do that in the points race at that level at her age; definitely one for the future.” “I’m 100% convinced that if she sticks with it she’ll make it to that top level; 100% certain.”

Knight says she sometimes has to pinch herself to check is she in the middle of a dream, such is her love for what she does.

“Travelling around the world to training camps and competitions, what isn’t there to love?” she laughs.

Her most recent engagement was the European U23 Track Championships in Greece where she went up against far more experienced riders – and came away with some very promising results.

She went purely for the experience, mind, and when she hits the boards for the World Track Championships in Kazakhstan in a few weeks, she’ll be hoping to implement what she’s learnt.

“I’m absolutely loving being involved,” she said.

“I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing; if someone told me a year ago I’d have done the European junior and U23 championships, the UCI World Cups and the senior world championships, I’d have laughed at them. My life has taken off with this.

“My family have no background in this; my Dad shears sheep up mountains around Munster and mum minds us all at home!” That’s when she’s home, course. “I can’t really remember the last time that was,” she chirps.

She’s definitely got the potential to medal at the World Championships next month, but prefers to keep expectation to a minimum.

“So much can happen. I don’t know what events I’ll be doing yet. The individual pursuit is one I will be doing but I’m not sure about what else so we’ll have to see.

“I just cannot wait, it’s one of the biggest races I’ll ever do and I just hope I can get 100% out of myself on the day. But I know if I don’t it won’t be for the lack of trying, and having fun along the way.”

The World Junior Track Championships runs from August 19-23.

One of the best things to see was Josie mixing and riding with good tactical awareness against world champions