Conor Dunne has been absolutely crucial to getting Aqua Blue Sport off to such a successful start this year. His constant aggression assured the team made its presence felt from its first races. And he has taken some excellent results along the way. Above, Conor Dunne on the podium at the Tour de Yorkshire earlier this year.
Conor Dunne in Aqua Blue Sport Vuelta team
Arguably Ireland’s hardest working pro cyclist Conor Dunne has been selected to the ride the Vuelta.
The Aqua Blue Sport breakaway specialist is among the team’s nine riders who will tackle the Grand Tour over the next three weeks.
Aqua Blue Sport named its team this evening in Nimes, France, where the race gets underway on Saturday.
Unfortunately there is no place in the line-up for fellow Irish riders Martyn Irvine and Matt Brammeier.
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Irvine is only returning to racing after a crash-related lay-off. And his non-selection is perhaps not a surprise.
For Brammeier, his years of experience in the pro peloton, up to and including WorldTour level, earmarked him as a likely man for selection.
But with many of the Aqua Blue Sport riders going very well of late, competition for places was intense.
And disappointingly for Matt Brammeier he misses out and his Grand Tour debut must wait.
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Dunne has well earned his place, going clear in the breakaways all season and taking his chance at ProContinental level with both hands.
He is a very hard working rider, having ridden at Continental level for An Post-Chainreaction for a number of seasons.
Dunne then relocated back to the UK scene to ride with JLT-Condor last year.
But any notion that signalled the beginning of his exit from the sport was scotched when he was offered a place with Aqua Blue Sport.
And from the drop of the first flag of the season this year he has been fantastic for the Irish ProContinental team.
His early aggression in races in Australia was crucial in stabilising the new team and getting it off to a really upbeat start.
And Irish fans can hopefully look forward to the sight of big man Dunne in the breakaways in the Vuelta.
He is joined by Adam Blythe, Mark Christian, Aaron Gate and Peter Koning. Also selected are Michel Kreder, Lasse Norman Hansen, Larry Warbasse and Stefan Denifl.
Aqua Blue Sport team owner Rick Delaney said everyone in the team was “incredibly excited” to be part of the Vuelta.
“We dreamed at the start of the year that we would get a start at a Grand Tour,” Rick Delaney said.
“To think that has come to fruition is extraordinary. The team we are sending is a very strong, solid team with riders who can compete on all terrain.
“We are looking forward to see Aqua Blue Sport out on the roads. And who knows, we might just pull off the ultimate dream – a stage win. Watch this space.”
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