Bryan McCrystal is a class tester and having switched full time from triathlon to cycling, he put in a fantastic Rás this year and is leaving Cuchulainn CC for Aquablue (Photo: www.blackumbrella.ie)
By Brian Canty
The country’s top team in 2013, Aquablue have made some significant additions to their line-up for the coming season.
The team has wasted no time in signing up 18-year-old Corkman Dylan Foley who rode the Junior World Championships in Florence last month. Bryan McCrystal, formerly of Cuchulainn CC in Co Louth, has also joined.
Two more riders who will guest with the squad throughout the year are Irish international triathletes Bryan Keane of Cork and Gavin Noble from Fermanagh. They will race with Aquablue as preparation for their triathlon seasons.
Two outgoing riders are team principal Timmy Barry, who retires for the second time after a brilliant return to the sport three years ago, while John McCarthy will also leave the team.
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McCarthy has gone into business with the new John McCarthy Cycles and is looking to expand that enterprise so will race under his own colours next year.
Barry, who will again co-ordinate their racing programme, has said the team has a wider geographic spread now and that all of the riders will not ride all of the same races.
“At any one time we’ll probably only have maybe five guys racing in Munster every Sunday and maybe three in Leinster with Damian (Shaw), Bryan (McCrystal) and Joe (Fenlon). We’ll have the likes of Olan Barrett, Maurice Lawlor, Sean Lacey, Robin Kelly and Keith Gater in Munster, as well as Foley of course, but it’s not realistic that they’ll all be racing every weekend.”
In 2013 the team swept the boards with wins in Kerry Group Rás Mumhan through Shaw, The Tour of Ulster with Fenlon, as well as bagging strong one-day victories in the Visit Nenagh Classic and the Des Hanlon Memorial, to name but a few.
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The Shay Elliott Memorial – a race won by Barry in 2011 - eluded the squad this year. The man who won the 2013 Elliott, Conor Murphy of Eurocycles had been rumoured to be joining the team but Barry poured cold water on that suggestion.
Foley will be an excellent addition to the team, having taken some great wins this year. But because he is doing his Leaving Cert next June, Barry said Foley’s programme will be restricted. He also hinted that he could race in France or Belgium later in the year, as well as on the track.
McCrystal recently set the record for the 100-mile time-trial on this island and is a powerhouse, having made the transition from soccer to triathlon and now into road racing.
Meanwhile, in further good news for the team, former Irish international John Dempsey is to become the team’s clothing sponsor.
Dempsey, of the Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers team, recently went into business with the Lucca Sports clothing brand who supply Verge clothing.
“We are delighted to have come on board with Aquablue,” said Dempsey.
“Clearly, they are one of the most professional outfits in the country and we’ll endeavor to provide them with the best gear throughout the season.”
Dylan Foley riding the 2012 Junior Tour of Ireland on the Irish team. He won the Gorey Three Day this year and gained selection for the World Junior Championships on both road and track. He leaves the Nicolas Roche Performance Team - a junior set-up - for Aquablue for his first year at U23 level in 2014 (Photo: www.blackumbrella.ie)
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