CYCLING: Judging by yesterday's official launch in the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin, the new Seán Kelly Racing Team looks set to ensure a very promising future for Irish cycling.
A slickly organised, professional presentation bodes well for the squad, as does the healthy list of sponsors which acted as a backdrop for the launch.
Encouraged no doubt by Kelly's endorsement of the squad, a considerable number of backers have thrown their weight behind the new project which, essentially, is the first Irish Continental level team.
Irish-registered but based at the Seán Kelly Cycling Academy in Belgium, the squad will compete against some of the world's top professional outfits in 2006, pitching young Irish talent against some of cycling's big pro names.
"I think it is going to play a very important role," said Kelly. "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."
In the first year the team will ride in UCI world-ranked races and will feature up to 10 Irish riders. Eight of these have already been confirmed, and includes Irish under-23 champion Paídí O'Brien, promising first-year senior Ciarán Kelly and the talented 22-year-old Tim Cassidy.
FBD Insurance Rás stage winner Roger Aiken, Mark Cassidy, Andrew McQuaid and the Concannon brothers, Eoin and Micheál, complete the Irish contingent, while seven experienced Belgians will also don the team colours in 2006.
Tim Cassidy is excited about the setup. "It is great for Irish cycling; it is a real opportunity for us all," he said. "I am looking forward to getting started as my form is very good at the moment."
The team was put together by several people, including Kelly, Cycling Ireland and Kurt Bogaerts of the Seán Kelly Cycling Academy in Merchtem, Belgium. Kelly's position as team director has already reaped benefits, with several sponsors jumping at the chance to get involved and race organisers expressing an early interest in the team.
In fact, for the first time, several Irish companies have committed their support to an international cycling team.
These include M Donnelly Power Tools, Spin 11 clothing, Stena Line, Lease Plan and XP Power. Equally involved are the Irish distributors of Merlin bikes and Oval components, plus the Irish and Northern Ireland Sports Councils.
All-in-all, there is a healthy degree of backing for the team. As Kelly said yesterday, in a wonderfully understated kind of way, all the riders need do now is start getting the results.
