For each single brief article on this long-running WATT HELPS ME assortment from Biking Weekly’s print variation , we ask an knowledgeable bicycle owner regarding their most popular considerations in coaching: what has truly assisted them most in caring for the realm they’re promptly. The intent is to succeed in the intestines of the concepts and likewise selections they protect expensive on constructing form, rising well being and wellness and likewise finally attending to outcomes. For this variation, we converse to Sean Flyn Sean Flynn on transforming expert after just one period on the road.

You obtained every cyclo-cross and likewise XC all-terrain bicycle throughout the nation junior titles in 2018, which suggests you’re an off-road knowledgeable?

I moreover obtained an throughout the nation title on the highway as an under-16, so I’ve at perpetuity achieved every. As quickly as I clarify myself as brand-new to highway auto racing, my pals chortle and likewise declare, ‘Nah, you’ve at perpetuity achieved it!’ As a junior I did 2 or 3 highway races a 12 months, to this point lower than folks from a road-only historical past.

You’ve solely been racing full-time on the road since 2021 however already you’re a WorldTour rider. How have you ever ever made such fast progress?

I wanted to be taught the intricacies of racing on the road, the feel, the sixth sense to make the becoming picks on the right time. Nonetheless bodily my capabilities had been already pretty good, which is what attracted [Team DSM] to me.

What did it entail, transferring off-road competencies to the road?

I knew I had pretty good power and a very good sprint, nevertheless sprinting on the road bike is admittedly completely completely different to sprinting on the mountain bike, so I wanted to work on that. Succeeding on the road comes proper right down to repeatability and producing the power on the end of the race. There’s further think about amount now and fewer depth; it’s further about managing energy and rising effectivity.

Does your combination of sprinting and endurance skills set you up as a Classics contender?

Yeah, that’s the type of racing I’ve truly truly beloved over the previous few years, though it’s nonetheless too early to discipline myself proper into a category. All through the group, I’m part of the Classics group.

By the use of technical experience, is your off-road background a bonus?

Positive, it offers you a superb sense for bike-handling. That talked about, as soon as I started on the road, I wasn’t primarily essentially the most assured descender, as a result of it’s a really completely completely different sensation. Nonetheless now, after some time, I can bear in mind it a power – not merely descending nevertheless transferring spherical throughout the bunch and being comfortable when points get a bit furry throughout the moist or on free surfaces.

I suppose you’ll be teaching in sunnier climes this winter?

Positive, most of the time I’ll be based totally in Girona [in Spain], the place I’ve numerous mates and training could be very good – and yeah, the local weather is barely larger than Scotland for the time being of yr! It’s already made pretty a distinction to my teaching.

And now, after eight years with out knowledgeable bike proprietor, Scotland immediately has two – every of you on the equivalent group.

Yeah, that was truly specific. As soon as I signed for DSM, I knew there hadn’t been a homegrown skilled rider for a really very long time. There have been quite a few jokes between me and Oscar [Onley] about who will most likely be first to race and, if we’re every within the equivalent race, who will cross the highway first. It’s very good, us being on the equivalent group.

Rider profile: Sean Flynn

Age: 22

Peak: 5ft 10in

FTP: 380W (estimated)

Hometown: Edinburgh

Lives: Girona, Spain

Rides for: Workforce DSM

Best outcomes: 1st – Stage 1, Istrian Spring Trophy (2022); 4th – Okolo JiŽnich Čech (2022); 4th – Paris-Excursions U23 (2022)

Twitter: @seanf1ynn

Instagram: seanf1ynn

(Image credit score rating: SWPix.com)

Do you might need a favourite type of teaching?

I truly like an endurance journey the place I can merely exit and profit from the driving: select a pleasing loop and savour it with none particular goals or targets. That’s the purest enjoyment in biking – a superb loop with a few mates.

Your excessive piece of advice for aspiring beginner racers?

Channel your motivation within the becoming strategies. On a day whilst you’re meant to be knocking out some arduous efforts, make sure you truly do them correctly. On days when you would be easy and chilled, persist with the plan – too many people push too arduous on easy days.

Quick-fire faves

Distraction on the turbo? British rap music, significantly Dave

Place to journey? Chambéry in south-eastern France – excellent environment

Type in truth to race on? One factor with some gravel, cobbles and fast climbs to create a key second

Cafe stop cope with? Cinnamon bun

Inspirational bike proprietor? Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins sparked my curiosity in avenue competing

Dream race to win? Paris-Roubaix

Put up-race celebration meal? Pizza

Ardour or curiosity outside of biking? Rap music

Prime quality in a training companion? Sharing the equivalent motivation or drive