McCann to retire from top level racing

Posted 14 March 2012

Multiple Irish road race champion David McCann has announced that he is to retire from racing at the top level at the end of the season.

The 38 year old RTS Racing man confirmed to VeloNation ( www.velonation.com ) that this is his final year and that he missed home having based himself on the Asian racing circuit for the past number of years.

“This is it. This is my final year,” McCann said at the Tour of Langkawi where he showed improved form coming off the back of the early season Tour of Oman and Tour of Qatar openers.

“I just miss being home, I have a new baby there. I think my head is more there than it is at the race. The body is fine, it’s just the head,” said the Belfast man.

McCann’s experience over a staggering 26 years at competitive level is certain to open new doors for him and he admitted that he is excited about what the future holds.

“It is going to be different. I will try to finish off this year well, then move into something different. I could do anything – that is the exciting part,” he said.

While the prospect of representing Ireland at the London Olympics is still open to him McCann acknoweldges that he faces a challenge to secure enough points to qualify for team selection.

“I think the points from this last block of racing would have been important. I didn’t manage to get any good results. It is going to be tough, although it is not out of the question, there are still more races before the selection cut-off,” he said.

The Irishman will turn his attention to the Tour of the Philippines or Tour of Korea after an extended trip home and is also likely to return to the Rás where he won a stage last year.

Irish cycling fans can watch Shane Stokes's and VeloNation's full interview at: www.velonation.com