Maguiresbridge racer Lee Johnston has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a rare blood disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis, which is a long-term condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed.

Johnston, who says he was “in severe pain for a period of time”, acknowledges that he will require injections for the remainder of his life but he confirms that he intends to race this year.

The Fermanagh man made the revelation on his YouTube Channel.

“I have not been well for quite a while but things are looking better now,” he said.

“Luckily enough, the doctors found it pretty quick and I’ve got all the right medication now, but I was in quite severe pain for a period of time.

“I have to take injections for the rest of my life and we are hoping this is going to be the way forward, but we don’t really know the level of pain-free I’m going to be or how much of a sport I’m going to be able to do, or what the actual situation is.”

However, he is feeling better now and states that he aims to compete this year, and is back in training.

“We only really made a decision in the last few weeks that I am going to race this year.

“I’m feeling loads better and I’ve started to train again so I’ll just see how it goes but that is pretty much what the situation with me has been.

“Hopefully we can get it under control properly and I can train and cycle as I want to and stay positive, going forward,” he said.