Four-time Irish road race title holder Matt Brammeier looks likely to compete in the An Post Rás in May of next year, riding the top Irish stage race in the distinctive colours of national champion.

In recent years Brammeier has been with teams that were unable to take part due to limitations on entry by squads at the top level of the sport, but he will be part of the Synergy Baku team next season.

Continental in licence but punching above its weight in budget and setup, the Azerbaijan-based squad both qualifies to ride the Rás and has a strong Irish element.

Prominent roles
Brammeier and Connor McConvey will be racing with them in 2014. Two other Irishmen have prominent roles; David McQuaid is the general manager and David McCann is the performance coach and analyst.

"We will for sure ride the Rás in May," McQuaid told The Irish Times at the team's training camp in Calpe, Spain this week. "To have the national elite champion is nice for An Post, the event sponsors, plus the organisers of the Rás. It will be nice to see him take a stage or whatever in the national champion's jersey."

McConvey will also be closely watched by his competitors. He was runner up to Pole Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain UK Youth) this year, level on time and only losing out due to accumulated stage placings.

General classification
McQuaid, like others, believes McConvey could win the general classification in 2014.

“He was unlucky this year,” he said. “But if you look at his progression, he was fourth overall before [2010], then second overall. The logical step is to try to win it now. We will see how he goes in 2014.”

Brammeier and McConvey said they were satisfied with their pre-season form this week.

Belfast native McConvey fractured his pelvis this season but came back and rode well at the end of the year.