Bagdonas, seen here on the Rás podium this year, is a popular rider and is always full of racing
An Post-Sean Kelly rider Gediminas Bagdonas is to leave the Irish-Belgian team, having signed for Ag2r for next season.
The Lithuanian came close to a move to the top division of the sport last year, but his deal fell through when the sponsorship of the Geox-TMC team collapsed.
It has been rumoured since his overall win in the Baltic Chain Tour earlier in the year that the move to Ag2r would take place. And while no official announcement has been made, stickybottle understands the deal is now done.
Bagdonas, who turns 27 in December, has notched up numerous victories this season including a couple of stage wins in the Rás, the Lithuanian National Championships, the Ronde van Noord-Holland and Memorial Philippe van Coningsloo. He also rode the Olympics and World Championships for Lithuania.
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He signed for An Post-Sean Kelly two years ago and has arguably been its most successful member since the team’s inception.
A very popular rider, his form this season has seen him rise to 8th in the UCI European Tour rankings. That puts him ahead of some very big names including riders of the calibre of Thomas Voeckler and Jerome Coppel.
The Lithuanian’s departure to Ag2r is a big blow to the An Post-Sean Kelly team, though Sean Kelly and team manager Kurt Bogaerts have both said they accept the strongest riders with the best results will be snapped up by bigger teams.
The French Ag2r squad will change significantly over the winter with the departure of Nicolas Roche, Sebastian Hinault and Martin Elmiger.
Amongst those joining Bagdonas in the revamped team will be Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ-Big Mat), Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago) and Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis). The team have struggled in recent years, so they will be hopeful that Bagdonas will continue his winning ways in the new season.
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