Irish cycling facing ‘void’ as Kelly’s team runs out of time

AN POST-CHAIN-REACTION team directors Seán Kelly and Kurt Bogaerts have admitted defeat in their efforts to keep the Irish continental team on the road for next year. And Bogaerts admits the setback couldn’t have come at worse time for Irish cycling, with a talented crop of young riders ready to make the step up.

The Irish outfit have been on the hunt for a new sponsor for next year since An Post confirmed last May that they would not be extending their 10-year association, but a deal couldn’t be finalised in time for today’s deadline.

Kelly and his Belgian partner had been in discussions with two potential sponsors in recent weeks, and still hope to resurrect the outfit for the 2019 season.

“There is a need for it in Ireland. It was necessary, because there was a lot of talent lately in Ireland, a lot of young guys from a good age.

“This year Matthew Teggart was excellent and I expected a lot from him next year, then you have guys like (Mark) Downey, (Michael) O’Loughlin coming through, a lot of guys who have shown they’re worth a ride on a continental team,” said Bogaerts (right).

“And it was basically sad that after so many years, there are a number of riders we could have chosen, it was the first time basically. Most years, there were only four or five, and now Ireland has really stepped up as a cycling nation.

“There’s a lot of potential there.”

Damien Shaw, who rode for An Post for the past two seasons, believes the team’s contribution to the sport will only be recognised when they’re no longer on the road.

“It’s a case of you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,” said the former fireman from Mullingar. “It’s been a brilliant platform for Irish cyclists, and will leave a massive void. Irish cycling will really miss it.

“It’s also been effectively the Irish federation at times in everything but name, the support, the soigneurs, the DS (directeur sportif) but just with an Irish jersey over it.”

Any hopes of getting the team back in action for 2019 will rely on Kelly maintaining his partnership with Bogaerts, who has already received offers from other teams. “Seán may be the name behind the team but on a day-to-day basis it’s Kurt’s team,” said Shaw, who came late to the sport and admits he’s already contemplating a return to the ‘real world’. Bogaerts will sit down with Kelly next month to discuss his future.

“I have the feeling that we want to continue the team in 2019 and we want to focus there but of course for myself, financially, I always need to have an income. I need to look at how basically I could combine the two ... because the sponsor hunt takes a lot of time,” said Bogaerts.