The excitement around Team Aqua Blue Sport is really building, and clearly big brands want a piece of the Irish action - which is fantastic to see.
With its riders signed and its jersey and team livery unveiled, Aqua Blue Sport has revealed it will ride Ridley bikes next year.
The bikes, in the team’s navy blue and gold colours, will be used for at least the next two years following a deal between the Irish ProContinental outfit and Belgian brand Ridley.
The riders will race on the Ridley Noah SL, though one of the 16 athletes - Austrian climber Stefan Denifl – prefers the Ridley Helium SLX.
And for those all-important team and individual TTs the riders will take to the Ridley Dean Fast specialist testing bikes.
The bikes are equipped with Shimano Dura Ace Di2 group sets and finishing kit from Ridley’s Belgian sister company 4ZA Components.
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The team’s wheel provider, already revealed in recent weeks, is the American manufacturer Knight Composites.
It will supply Knight clincher wheels in 35mm, 65mm and 95mm depths; built with Aivee SR5 hubs, Sapim CX Ray spokes and Schwalbe Pro One tyres.
Additional sponsors include:
- fi'zi:k - saddles and bar tape
- SRM - power meters
- Look - pedals and cleats
- Giro - helmets
- Rapha - eyewear
- Elite - turbo trainers, bottles and cages
- Scicon - travel equipment
- Secret Training - performance nutrition
Aqua Blue Sport’s general manager Stephen Moore said the staff and riders were honoured to work with such a respected and innovative brand as Ridley.
“The Ridley Noah SL, Helium SLX and Dean Fast represent a unique blend - marrying cutting edge technology and the latest developments in carbon fibre and aerodynamics with the hard-earned experience of professional racing,” he said.
Shamrocks can be tacky, but in navy blue and gold Aqua Blue Sport have found a classic livery that's going to look great on the open road.
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General manager Moore believed the brand’s ‘be tough’ philosophy reflected Aqua Blue Sport’s work ethic and determination to succeed.
“It’s something that for us as a new team carries a lot of significance,” Moore said of the team that will ride its first race in a matter of weeks.
“We’re proud to be working with such a great brand, and our riders are excited to have the chance to race such amazing bikes in 2017.”
For its part, Ridley said it was excited to be working with the Irish squad.
The company’s chief executive Jochim Aerts said the team was “highly ambitious” and was not only becoming the first Irish ProContinental outfit but also aspired to be at the “highest level” in the pro game.
It was an attitude Aerts said he and his colleagues were drawn to.
“I was immediately convinced by Aqua Blue Sport’s objectives and philosophy to become a strong platform for Irish cyclists, this is an ambitious project that Ridley Bikes are proud to support,” he said.
“The United Kingdom and Ireland are important markets for us so I would love to help increasing the popularity of the sport.”
Full set of photos #betough
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