Brussels, 9th February 2010: The line up for the 2010 An Post sponsored Seán Kelly Cycling team was revealed today, with an eighteen man strong team announced, including ten new high-profile signings.
The 2010 An Post Sean Kelly Team includes six Irish cyclists, with 2009 riders Páidi OBrien, Mark Cassidy, David OLoughlin, Matt Brammeier and Ronan McLaughlin all re-signed along with notable new addition, Belfast man Connor McConvey, who has made the switch from International Mountain Biking to International Road Racing.
Im really looking forward to pushing on this year with the An Post team OBrien said. The training camp in Calpe went particularly well and I get the feeling that this is the best shape the team has ever been in.
OBriens statement can be backed up by the teams blistering start to the season which included last Sundays stage win for Belgian rider Niko Eeckhout, who has been resigned for 2010, and a third place overall finish for fellow Belgian and new signing Pieter Ghyllebert at the Tour Etoile de Bessèges in South France.
Ghyllabert is one of eight new Belgian riders to join the team in 2010, including Maxim Debusschere, Stijn Minne, Kim Borry, Gil Suray, Bjorn Brems, Pascal Hossay, and Brice Scholten. They join existing team members Eeckhout, Kenny Lisabeth and Benny De Shrooder to make up a strong Belgian contingent. Liverpudlian Mark McNally, a former Gold medallist at the European Junior European Track Championships, completes the line up having joined from UK professional outfit Halfords-Bikehut.
The team completed a two week training camp in Calpe in Southern Spain last month, and their 2010 campaign will commenced at the end of January with a positive showing at GP Marseillaise in France, followed by the excellent results at the Tour Etoile de Bessèges last week. The team will be back in action on the 17th February at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal.
The An Post squad will return to Ireland for the nation's top races, the Rás, Tour of Ireland and national championships.
Our schedule for 2010 is now complete and we will be returning to Ireland for the FBD Rás on the 23rd May, said team director Seán Kelly It is an event I particularly look forward to as we always want to do well on home turf. Fortunately we have done, winning it in 2008 and last year with Niko winning the points jersey, and David OLoughlin the King of the Mountains."
An Post CEO Donal Connell said. An Post is delighted to continue our support for the Seán Kelly team for 2010 and helping assist some of Irelands best young riders fulfil their potential as elite athletes. We broadened our support of Irish cycling last year to include the An Post Cycle Series, which is encouraging communities around the country to get back in the saddle
The An Post sponsored team was set up by Sean Kelly five years ago as an extension of the Sean Kelly Academy to give young Irish cyclists a base from which to compete in Belgium, with the pro team designed to give young Irish riders access to a programme of top international races.
This is An Posts third year sponsoring the team; following on from a hugely successful two years which have included wins at the Rás in 2008 and team victories at the Tour of Extremadura, Tour de Pyrenees and Ronde de l'Oise. .
An Post got involved with cycling for the first time in 2007 as sponsors of the Green Jersey in the inaugural Tour of Ireland and extended their involvement in 2008 with the sponsorship of the Seán Kelly team, and last year moved into supporting cycling in the community, with the introduction of the An Post Cycle Series, in association with the Irish Sports Council.
2010 An Post Sean Kelly Team
Paidi O'Brien (IRL)
Mark Cassidy (IRL)
Ronan McLaughlin (IRL)
David OLoughlin (IRL)
Matt Brammeier (IRL)
Connor McConvey (NIRL)
Mark McNally (UK)
Benny De Schrooder (BEL)
Kenny Lisabeth (BEL)
Niko Eeckhout (BEL)
Maxim Debusschere (BEL)
Stijn Minne (BEL)
Kim Borry (BEL)
Gil Suray (BEL)
Bjorn Brems (BEL)
Pascal Hossay (BEL)
Brice Sholten (BEL)
Pieter Ghyllabert (BEL)
Manager: Kurt Bogaerts
Director: Seán Kelly
For further information on the team check out www.anpost.ie/cycling
Loading...
2:29
The An Post Sean Kelly team gear up for this years RASby anpostseankelly908 views
All Comments