From Mayo roads to green jerseys: inside Abi Conway's cycling rise

Mayo cyclist Abi Conway's ascent has been monumental.

A few years ago, the Westport woman was still in school, with the sport of cycling far from her mind. Tomorrow (Wednesday, September 3), she will be part of Team Ireland as she competes in the highlight of the Irish cycling season, Rás na mBan.

The UL student has had quite the rollercoaster ride, and just this summer, was among some of the great and good of the cycling world in the plains of Flanders as she gave her all in a sport that years ago wasn’t even in her life, but now is her life.

It was there that our conversation started, a chat that spanned all aspects of her incredible rise and her dreams for the future.

“I gave up the job in Mayo Healthcare at the end of July and drove to Belgium. It was a lot. I covered nearly 4,000 kilometres in two weeks, but I loved it.

“Belgium is the home of cycling, so I knew if I wanted to up my game, I had to go. The racing is just next level over there.

“You'd have over a hundred women in every race. So, if you're not on your A-game, it's over. You're out the back, so there's no room for mistakes, really.”

Cycling was never Abi’s first love growing up. In fact, her passion for horse riding took centre stage during her teens.

Eventually, when the pressures of the Leaving Cert took hold, she turned her focus to triathlons, but it was almost poetic when she swapped one saddle for another and took to the roads.

Plenty of success followed, including the Crotty Cup and her second-place finish in the National Championships.

However, Rás na mBan represents yet another step up, and pulling on the green jersey is one of the peaks of this remarkable rise.

“I did the Rás last year with UCD, so I know what to expect this time. I'm glad I know what's coming for me, so I'll rise to the challenge better.

“Here in Ireland, you just don't have the strength in numbers at women's races. If you're getting 10 or 12 in a women's race, you're lucky. When I went into the Rás last year, I was shook with just the size of the bunch, but now I know what to expect.

“I've been to Belgium, so I'm going to come at this with a lot more anger, and I know what I'm doing this time.”

Last year, the Westport-Covey Wheelers woman put in a stunning performance in the Newry Three-Day as well as the Under-23 National Championship, a trick she repeated in 2025.

Aliyah Rafferty, Aine Doherty, Erin Creighton, and Esther Wong round off a fantastic quintet.

When they set out from the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny, they’ll be wound up and ready for a gruelling 388-kilometre spectacle of biking, hopefully culminating in success.

“I recognise I'm the least experienced on the team, but I guess we all start somewhere, and I'm going to put my best foot forward.

“I'm going to play whatever role is asked of me in the team, and just work as a good teammate with the girls.

“I just want to do whatever is asked of me, really. If an opportunity comes up for me to do well, I will absolutely take it, but we'll see.”

This is a monumental moment so early in the University of Limerick student’s career. She’s acutely aware of that fact, but the ultimate goal remains the summit of the sport.

“I would love to be able to ride the Tour de France Femmes.

“To win a national championship would be cool, but this is a massive milestone for me, getting the green jersey.

“Getting to wear it is something I've dreamed of. It just shows that my hard work is paying off. It gives me the opportunity to dream big and see that things are possible.”

Time will tell if the fields of France will be calling Abi Conway’s name one day soon. One thing that is guaranteed is that she’ll give it her all, and with her talent, skill, and determination, dreams may well come true.