McLaughlin, Downey and Bennett will all ride for An Post-Sean Kelly again next year
The Belgian-based An Post-Sean Kelly team has confirmed the Irish trio of Ronan McLaughlin, Sean Downey and Sam Bennett will once again ride for the squad next year.
The re-signing of the three riders was anticipated, with previous statements from the team suggesting all three would be with them again for the 2013 campaign. News of their re-signing comes just a week after it was confirmed Jack Wilson had signed up for the coming year.
McLaughlin had a very good season in 2012, proving very strong and aggressive against top pro opposition in many races. He was deservedly rewarded with a place in the three-man Irish team that rode the elite race at the World Championships in Holland in September.
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He also came very close to what would have been a famous stage win at the An Post Rás in May, when a near stage-long solo breakaway fell short on the finishing straight in his native Co Donegal.
Next year will be McLaughlin’s sixth season with the Sean Kelly outfit.
Downey, still only 21-years-old, enjoyed his first season with the team this year and having learned a lot during that campaign he will face into next year a much stronger rider and more familiar with the Belgian scene.
He also rode the World Championships this year, taking in both the road race and time trial at U23 level. His best result in 2012 came in the Kreiz Breizh three-day elite stage race in Brittany in late July, when he placed 7th in the TT on his way to 8th overall.
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Meanwhile, Bennett had a very strong year this year, placing 7th in the U23 European Championships and 10th in the World Championships, not to mention bagging three top ten stage finishes in the Tour of Britain in September.
He is just recovering from a knee operation aimed at resolving the injury that forced him out of the Tour of Britain and dogged him at the Worlds despite his taking 10th on the day.
An Post-Sean Kelly manager, Kurt Bogaerts said he was delighted to have secured the trio’s services for another season.
“It’s fantastic that Ronan, Sam and Sean have committed to the team for another year. Sam had some excellent results last season and is back on the bike now following his surgery, so he will be ready for next season which I’m sure will see him progress even further.”
“Ronan was superb all year. He was a thorn in the side of the big teams at the Tour of Britain and he proved he can compete with the best so next year will be a very important season for him.”
“For Sean, it always takes a year or so to settle in and make the transition but I think he has done that really well and with a good winter’s training behind him he can certainly start picking up some results”.
The An Post Sean Kelly team will begin a week-long training camp in Calpe on December 1st.
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