Irish rider Daniel Yon Hin is looking forward to racing in Italy after signing for Zappi Racing for next year, which will be his second season at U23 level.
Like most other young riders, the 19-year-old from Co Cork saw many racing opporunties slip away over the last two seasons due to the pandemic.
However, having now signed for Zappi Racing - a UK-based development team with strong links to Italy - he is looking forward to branching out and getting a taste of European racing.
"I’ve always been interested in Zappi racing every since I was a junior rider especially since Irish riders have been there before," he said of riders like Ben Healy, Archie Ryan, Shay Donley and Mitchell McLaughlin.
"I had been in contact with Zappi since May and they said they would keep an eye on me. when applications to join the team opened in July the process sped up, and I was offered a place for next year.
Advertisement
Related News
"I’m looking forward to living in Italy and racing UCI races where I can fully focus on my cycling for the year, Hopefully I can race big races like the baby Giro and Lombardia.
"With international racing experience as a first year junior in Holland and Belgium over that summer, I’m looking forward to getting back on the continent where the terrain will suit me better.
"I’m excited for this opportunity especially since COVID scraped my plans as a second year junior and any chance of Irish selection, hopefully Irish selection as an U23 will come in the near future."
Yon Hin's new team has a based in Cesena, Italy, about 50km north of San Marino. The teenager from Nenagh in Co Tipperary rode for O'Leary Stone Kanturk as a junior.
He competed in the colours of Spellman Dublin Port this year, when he was part of the line-up that won team gold at the National Road Championships in Co Wicklow, and won the Kilmessan GP last year.
