Pan Am Games medal-winner Conor White optimistic ahead of new season
Conor White is targeting a stellar domestic campaign with Austin Aviators after continuing his impressive close-season form in Spain.
In preparation for the start of the upcoming road race season in the United States, which gets under way in April, the 24-year-old has been undertaking a month-long training camp and competing in a number of local races.
The winner of a bronze medal in the time-trial at last year’s Pan American Games in Chile, White has produced some encouraging recent form, including sealing a second-placed finish overall in the Social Casa race on Sunday, adding to his fifth-placed finish in the same series earlier this month.
“I’ve had a really good month out here in Spain and it’s been a great way to get some strong training in as well as test out my form,” he said.
“I’m using the time out here as major preparation for the new season. I will be heading out to California in March to join up with the team for a training camp and then the first big race of the season, the Redlands Classic, starts in April.
“I’m aiming to have a really strong season and based on my current form I’m hopeful that I can do that. I won’t have as many international races this season so it is a good chance to focus more on the Aviators and have some really good race results.”
Reflecting on his latest performance, White was pleased to have lived up to his pre-race expectations of challenging for victory.
“It was definitely an expectation of mine to challenge for the win,” he added. “I raced against a similar field two weeks previously, where I didn’t really know what to expect, but I felt strong off the front.
“That gave me greater expectations for this race and I knew I could potentially be up there challenging for victory.
“I was close to getting that win and ultimately lost by a wheel length.”
Despite finishing second overall, White was among the prizes after winning a leg of ham after picking up one of the intermediate sprints.
However, he revealed he was not able enjoy his spoils and was ultimately left empty-handed.
“It was one of the intermediate sprint prizes and so I went for it and got it,” said White on of the more unusual awards of his racing career.
“Unfortunately I had to give it away because it weighed too much and I had ridden to the race. Apparently it is a common prize out here so maybe I’ll get a chance to win another.”