SEAN QUINN
Hagens Berman Axeon’s Los Angeles native looks like a GC star in the making
Another talent from Axel Merckx’s team? Sean Quinn is the latest great hope to come out of Merckx’s Hagens Berman Axeon outfit. The 19-year-old Californian is into his second year at the development team, following in the footsteps of established WorldTour riders like Tao Geoghegan Hart, Will Barta and Neilson Powless. He said that just being on the team means that “you have top tier teams looking down at you with more open eyes”.
Has Sean impressed?
He certainly has, finishing sixth at last year’s Baby Giro, no doubt impressing professional teams with his staying power in the mountains. He told Procycling that it was a “good feeling to be able to hold on for 10 days and to be really consistent,” and that he enjoyed having the team ride for him.
So Sean is a GC guy?
Yes, he thinks of himself as a leader. “I love the long climbs where you can just diesel up, and I also like time trials. I’m working on that now, because it’s an area I’ve definitely struggled in. I’m heavier than most climbers so it gives me an advantage in transition stages and TTs, but it was hard to stay with the Colombians in Italy last year,” he tells us.
What’s his background?
He’s from Los Angeles, where he still lives, and got hooked on cycling with the help of a Tour-obsessed father. He explains: “As early as I can remember he was always watching the Tour.” He started cycling in the velodrome at 12, and then got picked up by the US national team.
And how’s it going at Axeon?
“The team is pretty much the best place for me to be. Our directors run such a professional programme, and they give us the opportunity to fail, as they say. Last year was a perfect mixture of U23 races, where we can compete, and pro races, so we’re getting some exposure to the top level,” he says. He adds that the team is “super relaxed” and despite being English speaking, and US based, is run along European lines.
What’s next?
Depending on what races take place, Sean hopes to return to the Baby Giro and to ride the Tour de L’Avenir.