Mark McNally taking a fine overall victory in the La Mi-Août en Bretagne stage race in Brittany (©Seankellycyclingacademy)
An Post Ras winner Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post-Sean Kelly) has been offered a deal with Geox-TMC, the team of Vuelta winner Jose Cobo, but the promising move has been scuppered with the demise of the squad.
Similarly, his An Post-Sean Kelly team mate Mark McNally was offered a contract for next year with French team Europcar, but that offer now looks in trouble.
Stickybottle understands Europcar, whose leader Thomas Voeckler was a popular Tour de France yellow jersey wearer this year, expected to land a UCI ProTour licence for next season.
Their plans to expand, including the recruitment of Liverpudlian McNally, appear to have been dependent on them being granted the licence.
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However, it looks like the failure thus far to secure that licence has put McNally’s move on hold.
His overall win this year in the La Mi-Aout en Bretagne appears to have put him on the radar of major teams, a factor that may yet see him land a major contract for next year.
For Bagdonas, the collapse of Geox-TMC has also completely scuttled his plans.
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The 25-year-old Lithuanian was An Post-Sean Kelly’s stand-out rider of 2011, with wins including the An Post Ras GC – where he also won two stages – and a stage in the Tour of Britain.
He also won a stage in the Ronde de l’Oise and the Lithuanian TT title.
He had completely maximised his ride for An Post-Sean Kelly this year, underlining his worth at that level. It is unclear what he will do next year, but given his results he undoubtedly has a very good chance of landing another contract.
However, the collapse of such a promising move is a major disappointment for the strongman.
The Geox-TMC team has effectively collapsed with the decision by Geox, a shoe company, to withdraw from the sport.
Josean Fernández Matxín, the sport director of the Spanish outfit, has told his riders to look for another team, such is his level of uncertainty about finding a sponsor to replace Geox and keep the team alive.
While it is unclear where the duo will ride next year, the fact they are in the mix for offers from such significant teams is further proof of the enhanced reputation of the An Post-Sean Kelly team.
An Post-Sean Kelly’s Gediminas Bagdonas in full flight in the Tour of Britain
