Irish champion Conor Dunne plans to race with aggression for Israel Cycling Academy next year (Photo: Karen M Edwards)
Conor Dunne on his hopes for Israel Cycling Academy
Conor Dunne has said he wants to go on the attack next year and take his chances with his new Israel Cycling Academy team.
The Irish rider, now aged 26 years, has just signed a new deal with the squad. He had been set to ride for Aqua Blue Sport for the next two years but it folded in August.
With several teams ceasing this year, Dunne and his team mates faced a challenge in securing new deals.
However, he has now done so and will ride his sixth season in the pro peloton on 2019.
He began racing as an amateur in Britain, before moving to Belgium. Dunne then moved to Continental level, spending two seasons with An Post-Chainreaction.
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In 2016 he competed for UK Continental team JLT-Condor. There followed two seasons with Aqua Blue Sport; his 2018 campaign cut short with the team's demise.
The team he is now going to rode the Giro last year and is fancied for further Grand Tour invites. Dunne said he was delighted with his new deal.
"I suppose I have gained a bit of a reputation for riding in the early breakaways in many of the races I've participated in, and this is something I have really enjoyed," Dunne said in a statement released by Israel Cycling Academy.
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"I love being out front and racing aggressively. It is a way of expressing myself. However, at the same time, I feel I am a reliable team player and love participating in a victory in any small way and sharing that feeling with my teammates."
"At ICA, this is something I really want to continue doing and prove to be a reliable, strong and versatile member of ICA at any race we line up in," Dunne said.
"I also really believe in myself and have huge motivation going into next year to improve further and push myself more than ever.
"My own personal goal is to win a race in the national champion's colours next year and really put some pressure on myself to achieve this," Dunne said.
"I have admired the way ICA work from afar. They have been super strong and ridden well as a team at any race I have competed against them in.
“So I am really looking forward to working with them next year and make some ambitious goals together. It's a great opportunity to be part of a winning team that I'm grateful for the opportunity.
“I grew up in Hertfordshire, UK, but now I spend most of my time in Ireland; my girlfriend is from Co Waterford and I love this part of the world. It gives me great pride to represent my country.
"I grew up being super proud of my family's roots in Ireland. My dad's side of the family is from Ireland.
"I lived and raced in Belgium as a U23 and also was hugely proud to begin representing Ireland internationally at this point," he said.
"I had some good times and hard times, but enjoyed all the challenges that came my way. I then raced for continental teams An Post-ChainReaction and JLT Condor for a few years before getting an opportunity to turn professional with AquaBlue Sport.
"I gained a lot of experience during these years, riding the Vuelta España a mixture of WorldTour races. And I also gained my favourite win of my career at the national championships.
“I am so proud to be national champion and love racing with the shamrocks on my back. It is a massive honour."
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