Van D’am Racing’s Shaun O’Callaghan has started the CIC Cervélo Super Series with a bang. After taking out the iconic Hell of the North road race at Wallaroo, O’Callaghan briefly snared the leader’s yellow jersey from Tom Chapman. Unfortunately for the Van D’am Racing star, SASI’s Tom Kaesler claimed the GC lead following an impressive display during Round 3 at Kadina.
O’Callaghan is in second position on the general classification leader board and will be looking to keep the pressure on Kaesler come Round 4 at Victoria Park. We had a chat with Shaun O’Callaghan ahead of Round 4 to discuss the series so far and what he’s hoping to get out of it.
Q | You’ve started the series with a bang, briefly claiming the leader’s jersey. Was the GC something that you had identified before the start of series?
O’Callaghan | I think for most people GC was something they targeted before the start of the series. For me personally, of course taking GC is the aim but I’d prefer to be leading after round 10.
Q | You’re currently sitting second overall, with a 21 point gap between you and third placed Harry Carpenter. Are you expecting a dramatic change in the standings during Rounds 4 and 5? Or do you think the shake up may come during the Norton Summit Time Trial?
O’Callaghan | I don’t expect any round to cause a real shake up, as we’ve seen across the first three rounds the outcome of the race is probably going to be a surprise, such as round 1 and 3 finishing with a breakaway taking the win as opposed to bunch kicks. Then with an uphill time trial thrown in the mix I think it shows everyone is going to have to bring their best to each race and hope they have some luck on their side.
Q | What is Van D’am Racing’s plan for the rest of the CIC Cervelo Super Series season?
O’Callaghan | To be honest, we’re such a young team only having raced these three CIC Cervelo Super Series races together, we take each race on its own merit and all give it our best shot. We certainly go into each race with a plan, but plans change as we saw last Sunday (with Callum and Tom crashing) it’s just lucky that we have some talented young guys who are mature enough adapt.
Q | What are your plans for the upcoming season 2016?
O’Callaghan | One of the good things about starting a new year with a new team is that we have a pretty clean slate to start with. So far the team has outlined a few NRS and VRS races as well as making the most of South Australia’s racing scene. Personally, I’m also looking at heading overseas through the middle of the year to try my luck on the European scene, I’m not sure where just yet, but at the moment I’m taking it all a week at a time.
Q | When did you start cycling?
O’Callaghan | I started cycling on the track when I was just six, an auskick style learn to ride/race clinic run by Olympian Alan Grindal taught me the ins and outs of riding, racing, bike handling and basically everything a cyclist needs to know on and off the bike. I owe a lot to Alan as well as my family for all of their help thus far in my cycling.
Q | What are your future goals in, and out of, the sport?
O’Callaghan | I want to take my cycling as far as I possibly can, of course living in Europe making a living as a professional cyclist is the dream, but if I can look back down the track and know that I gave everything my best shot then I’ll be happy.
As for off the bike I think something in the hospitality industry will be where I work. Much like cycling, there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it, a lot of time and dedication but you will reap what you sow.
I have myself in the right circles on and off the bike so I know that whichever path I take, I'm going to be doing something I love.
Q | Anything else you may like to add?
O’Callaghan | With an exciting season ahead and causing a splash in its first few races, anyone out there who would like to join the upcoming journey with Van D’am Racing please feel free to get in contact with myself or Lachlan Ambrose and help this young South Australian team make a splash on the big scene.
I hope you enjoyed reading a little more about me, my team and my history. Lets get ready for another race this coming Thursday night and see how we go.
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