Well known on the Irish scene as a rider and in recent years as a manager, Tim Barry is now a sporting director at Aqua Blue Sport. Above, in France at the team camp currently underway (Photo courtesy Aqua Blue Sport-Karen Edwards)
Out of Cork via the south of France, Aqua Blue Sport has named its line-up for its first ever event; the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
The season-opener, in Australia at the end of next month, seems like the perfect terrain for the Irish ProContinental team to get underway because one of its riders, Leigh Howard, was 2nd in the 2016 edition.
A total of seven riders have been named on the team for the contest in Victoria on Sunday, January 29th.
With 26-year-old Howard in the team is Conor Dunne; the former An Post-Chainreaction rider the only Irishman set to travel Down Under.
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Matt Brammeier and Martyn Irvine will get their seasons underway a little later.
With Howard and Dunne in the line-up are: Australian Calvin Watson, Kiwi Aaron Gate, Peter Koning and Michel Kreder from the Netherlands and American Larry Warbasse.
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Aqua Blue Sport owner, Rick Delaney, said the team was now preparing to get racing.
“We are delighted with the team that we have assembled for our first race and believe we have the ability to make an impact from the outset in 2017,” he said.
“We are getting very excited about the start of the season and competing in Australia at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
“Seeing the navy and gold jersey on our riders in competition is something of a dream come true for me but also the beginning of the journey for Aqua Blue Sport.”
Howard not only finished 2nd in the 2016 edition, but the race also starts in his home town of Geelong.
And it would be an amazing start for the squad if he could go one better and win the event this time around.
“I’m really excited to be starting my season back home in Australia, and having taken 2nd place last year I’m definitely on a mission to perform in 2017," he said.
“My pre-season has been going well, I’m excited to be with a new team and I will be disappointed with anything less than a strong result on January 29th.”
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