Rick Delaney says his cycling team Aqua Blue Sport can't get a break. And he has rounded on what he says is a boys' club mentality in pro cycling (Photo: Karen M Edwards)
Rick Delaney has asked if pro cycling is a real sport
Founder and owner of the Aqua Blue Sport ProContinental cycling team, Rick Delaney, has said pro cycling is dominated by a "boys' club mentality".
He took to social media to vent his frustration at failing to secure an invite to the Vuelta, and other races.
The team secured a Vuelta invite in its maiden season last year. It rode aggressively and won stage 17 with Stefan Denifl.
Despite that success, when the four 2018 wild card invites were allocated to ProContinental teams on Monday, there was no place for the Irish outfit.
And while the team long suspected it would not get an invite; when that news was confirmed Rick Delaney expressed his annoyance.
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He said the team wanted to ride races and develop its business model. But without securing invites to many one-day and stage races it was being frustrated in those goals.
He also questioned whether there were criteria for securing invites.
WorldTour teams are guaranteed entry to major races, including the Grand Tours. But ProContinental teams must depend on invites.
Just another kicking for team @AquaBlueSport . It’s confirmed, no Grand Tour. @amaurysport @rcssport @UCI_cycling @lavuelta pic.twitter.com/SZi863SHY0
— Rick Delaney (@RickDelaneyABS) April 10, 2018
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This year two new Spanish ProContinental teams have secured wild card entries to the Vuelta; Burgos-BH and Euskadi Basque Country-Murias.
Also riding is establish Spanish team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. And the final invite is extended to French team Cofidis-Solutions Crédits.
Rick Delaney said race organisers did not have the courtesy to inform teams when they were not being invited to races. This was despite his investing millions and trying to enhance pro cycling.
He sent out his criticisms in a statement posted on Twitter. He tagged the UCI, Tour de France owners ASO, Giro owners RCS and the Vuelta.
“I’m so pissed off with the ‘process’, what is the selection criteria?” said Delaney of wild card entry into races.
The Cork businessman is currently heading up the team in its second season. He has said from the outset he's made a four-year financial commitment to the squad.
“Last year we had no history and got some fantastic invites,” he continued. “This year we have a positive history and get little or no invites.
“I invest millions in this sport and try to offer something different in terms of funding in order to keep the sport alive.
“All I have asked for is respect in allowing us to showcase the project for the sport. No races means no traffic to our site which means no sales and therefore no funding for our team.
“We ask the sport over and over again to allow us to race on the big stages, to support our project and in turn, support the sport.
“We don’t even get a courtesy call to say we’ve been overlooked. We, along with other teams, have to discover via social media if we are allowed to race. That’s it.
“We can’t get any race starts as a team who are trying to build and improve the sport. Yes I know, the sport will be around much longer than I, but it’s currently controlled by a ‘boys' club’ mentality.
“We really need to question is this a real sport, is it giving real opportunities? Simply unbelievable! Over and out...”
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