Kurt Bogaerts with members of the new Sean Kelly Racing Team at the Team Launch today in Dublin
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Ireland’s first UCI-registered Continental team was officially launched yesterday at a slick, well organised presentation at the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin.
The Sean Kelly Racing Team will feature up to ten Irish riders plus seven Belgians in 2006, striking a mix between youth and experience which is hoped will lead to a strong showing from the Belgian-based squad.
The initiative has been set up to build on the benefits of the Sean Kelly Cycling Academy and, in doing so, to boost the chances of Ireland’s young riders making it as professionals. The team will act as a development squad, taking the best Irish unsigned talent, exposing them to a good range of racing - including UCI ranked events – throughout Belgium, Europe and further afield.
Eight Irish riders have been selected thus far. This number includes such riders as Irish under 23 champion Paídi O’Brien, promising first-year senior Ciaran Kelly and the talented 22 year old Tim Cassidy, who has taken several important results over the years but who has also been unlucky with injury.
FBD Insurance Rás stage winner Roger Aiken, Mark Cassidy, Andrew McQuaid and the Concannon brothers Eoin and Miceal complete the Irish contingent.
On the Belgian side, former Chocolade Jacques rider Jehudi Schoonacker, ex-QuickStep youth team members Dwight Desaever and Stijn Minne, GP Etienne de Wilde and GP Roger de Vlaeminck winner Peter Schoonjans, sprinter Rieno Stofferis, Bart Cosyn, Harm Van de Kerckhove plus rider/team manager Kurt Bogaerts have all been confirmed.
Tim Cassidy said that he is excited about the setup. “It is great for Irish cycling, it is a real opportunity for us all,” he stated. “I am looking forward to getting started. My form is very good at the moment, I have got in a very good winter. I’m pretty excited by that as I got some nice results at the start of last season on very little training. So hopefully a strong year is in store.”
Paídi O’Brien was similarly optimistic. “I think it is going to be super,” he said. “Racing with the Academy was great last year; the setup there was very good, with super racing and everything you could want in the locality. Whenever Sean was there, it really motivated the riders and we did better as a result. I think the team is going to be great.”
Of course, having Kelly’s name so prominently attached to the team brings other benefits, too. “It made it easier when we were looking for sponsors, and also has led to some interest from race organisers,” said Bogaerts. Kelly’s position as team directeur is also a big plus. “Sean will be helping out by giving advice to the riders and providing guidance to the team. His input will be very important.”
The Sean Kelly Racing Team came about through the efforts of the Irish champion, Bogaerts (who managed the Sean Kelly Cycling Academy), Frank Campbell, Cycling Ireland, plus several others. Work began on the project several months ago and, assisted by the draw of Kelly’s name, several backers came on board. The Belgian company ACLVB Liberale Vakbond committed as a major sponsor, while the support of Lease Plan, Continental Tires, Time, Fizik, Maximise, Almero Meat, De Grauwe Werkkledij, Bergini Jeans, Argenta Dirk Pessemier and Oakley have been secured.
Encouraged no doubt by Kelly’s endorsement of the squad, several Irish companies also signed up in what is the first such involvement in an international team. Businessman Martin Donnelly is known in cycling for his backing of the Junior Tour and Stamullen Road Club; his powertools business will take a place alongside ACLVB as one of the two major backers. The Irish distributors of Merlin Bikes and Oval Concepts components will supply some of the equipment, while Spin 11 clothing, Stena Line, XP Power plus the Irish and Northern Ireland Sports Councils and the Olympic Council of Ireland have also came on board.
Kelly spoke extensively about the team yesterday. He feels it will be of big benefit to Irish cycling. “I think it is going to play a very important role,” he said. “It takes a number of years to get riders up to a high standard. We started off with the Cycling Academy in Belgium and, after three years of that, we decided to take things a step further and set up a team. We have been working hard at it for the past four months and it has come together well in that time.
“It will have an important part to play for Irish cycling. The goal is to take on some lads, look after them well and ultimately help them on to what will hopefully be careers with the very top pro squads.”
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More details on the Sean Kelly Racing Team will follow later.
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SEAN KELLY RACING TEAM TO BE LAUNCHED TODAY
Irish cycling takes an important step forward with the launch of the Sean Kelly Racing Team in Dublin today.
The former world number one and Tour of Spain winner will act as team director for the squad, helping to guide young riders towards successful pro careers.
The team will be the first such UCI registered Continental-level racing team to come out of Ireland. It will be based in Belgium and will compete in professional and amateur events in Europe and further afield.
The Sean Kelly Racing Team will be predominantly comprised of Irish riders in 2006, although several Belgian riders will also compete in its colours. Eight Irish riders have been signed thus far, with three others to be taken on board later in the year.
Those already confirmed include the promising young Dubliner Tim Cassidy, who took a number of strong results in French pro-am races last year. He will be joined by FBD Insurance Rás stage winner Roger Aiken and Irish under 23 champion Paídi O’Brien, both of whom who were based at the Sean Kelly Academy in 2005.
Another who is returning is Ciarán Kelly, who won a number of high-level junior races last season in Belgium. The Irish contingent is completed by Mark Cassidy, Eoin and Miceal Concannon plus Andrew McQuaid, son of UCI President Pat McQuaid.
The team is a result of ongoing collaboration between Kelly, Cycling Ireland and the Sean Kelly Cycling Academy in Merchtem, Belgium. The new squad will be based there in 2006.