"Suffering is when you lose your little brother on a bike" - Irish rider's touching interview after World Championships crash
Cycling
Seth Dunwoody delivered an emotional and touching interview as he put cycling and life into perspective following his crash during Monday's Under-23 time trial World Championships in Montreal.
The Irish rider, joining Bahrain Victorious in 2027, is the current road national champion but endured a tough build-up to the championships. When he crashed early in his effort, his chances of a strong finish were dashed.
However, Dunwoody brilliantly summed up how he puts the disappointment into perspective as he he highlighted recent tragedies in cycling, including his Irish teammate Liam O'Brien's brother Shane, who died after a training collision in June.
When first asked about the crash, Dunwoody was quick to point to it being a success that he had the opportunity to ride in Montreal in the first place after a crash at the Tour de l'Avenir last month.
“I’m okay. It was mostly a mental blow—it hit me harder mentally than physically. But hey, what can you do?," he told CyclingProNet.
Dunwoody's struggle for fitness before World Championships
“Behind the scenes, it really took a lot of effort for me to even be here. I had 12 stitches in my shin. Two weeks ago, I didn't even know if I'd be traveling to Montréal."
The sprint specialist knows it was a blessing to have thrown on the Irish skin-suit. He added: “The fact that I’m actually here was, in a way, already a victory for me. I had nothing to lose, because, to be honest, it’s a miracle and a blessing that I made it to the World Championships.”
Asked about suffering as a result of the crash, dashing his chances of a potential result, Dunwoody quickly put things into perspective with a poignant message. Alluding to Shane O'Brien's death, he said cycling isn't the most important thing in life as he praised his teammate and friend. The interview also comes weeks after the death of Finlay Tarling in the Volta ao Portugal.
Dunwoody's touching interview
“This crash wasn’t really suffering. Suffering is when you lose your little brother on a bike—that’s real suffering. Crashing at a World Championship isn’t real pain; cycling isn’t the most important thing in life.
"That thought helps you keep going—I've learned a lot from my friends in that regard. The past season has been really tough, and of course, I didn't come to the World Championships to crash."
The 20-year-old steps up to WorldTour level next season after confirming a three-year deal with Bahrain Victorious, stepping up from their development team.
A versatile sprinter, he has already claimed big wins at the Irish National Championships and Giro NextGen.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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