McNally gets the win at GP Beeckman-De Caluwé in Belgium in July (Photo: [email protected])
The An Post-Sean Kelly team is continuing to build its riding personnel for next season and has confirmed Mark McNally has re-signed while Kieran Frend is joining the squad from UK-based Continental outfit Node4-Giordana.
McNally saw a proposed transfer to Europcar fall through 12 months ago when they team was not offered a WorldTour licence by the UCI.
He has been one of the strongest riders in the An Post-Sean Kelly team in recent seasons but had to endure a lot of bad luck in 2012 including problems with his appendix and wisdom teeth.
However, he still enjoyed some very strong rides during the season and aged just 23 years he still has plenty of time to secure a WorldTour contract, which he undoubtedly has the talent for.
Advertisement
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts said McNally would be a key rider in the year ahead.
Related News
“Mark has great ability and is capable of making the jump up to a bigger team but he needs to be competing for a full season without any disruptions and the results will come,” Bogaerts said.
“He was unlucky last season having trouble with his appendix and wisdom teeth and he achieved some good results but he just needs to show more consistency. With a good winter’s training under his belt I believe we will see the best of him”.
Bogaerts was equally excited about the prospect of having Frend on board.
“Kieran is an excellent up and coming rider and I am very happy he has decided to join the team. I have watched him compete several times and he was also recommended to me by Daniel Lloyd who raced with us in 2008.”
“Kieran has a climbing physique and is naturally more suited to hilly races so I think our program will be a good match for him. He will get more opportunities to test himself against the best riders in the world and this is definitely something that will help him develop as a rider.”
Both riders will join the rest of the team at its training camp in Calpe, Spain, next week.
Topics
