Eddie Dunbar has made a huge impression in the opening few months of the season, putting in some sterling rides for his UK-based NFTO Pro Cycling team. The two-time Junior Tour of Ireland winner has had his chances of racing at ProContinental next year boosted following news that Aberdeen Asset Management will come on board as sponsors of his current employers for the next three years (Photo: Larry Hickmott - VeloUK.net)
By Brian Canty
The prospect of Irish teenager Eddie Dunbar, as early as next season, moving up to ProContinental level has been given a huge boost with news his UK-based NFTO Pro Cycling team has received substantial backing from a global investment company.
Aberdeen Asset Management has signed a three-year partnership with the squad and will likely be its title sponsor for next year and beyond.
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The financial company will have an immediate influence on the squad; with its distinctive logo to be worn on the team kit for the upcoming Tour of Yorkshire from May 1st to 3rd.
No financial details were given at the announcement of the partnership, but as the largest listed fund manager in Europe it is believed the firm is contributing a very significant sum
It’s huge news for Dunbar, who was present at the event to launch the partnership, alongside the team’s marquee rider Steele Van Hoff.
Some questioned Dunbar’s move to a UK team at the expense of going the path most travelled; France or Belgium. But he’s hit the ground motoring and now the future appears to be taking shape very favourably for him (Photo: Larry Hickmott – VelUK.net)
The new backer manages a £350 billion investment portfolio. NFTO Pro Cycling, which started as a club and is arguably the best UK Continental-ranked team at present, wants to be Britain’s first ProContinental team next year.
And beyond 2016 it hopes to move into the WorldTour as soon as 2018.
Dunbar told stickybottle he was delighted with the latest development.
“It’s such a good company to get involved with,” said 18 year-old Dunbar, fresh from his heroics with the Irish U23 team last week.
“They’ve helped other sports as well over the years and they’ve a proven track record; obviously to get a company like them on board is unreal.
The national junior time trial champion in 2013, Dunbar is hoping his testing combined with his climbing can take him places in major international races (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
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“From my point of view, as an 18 year-old coming into the ranks; if we go ProContinental it’s good for development purposes.
“This year we’ve a great race programme and if we can move up that level, with the same setup and the same group of riders; it’s a lot easier for me to work with the same guys.
“It’s just really good from a progression and development point of view and the riders on the team are definitely capable of moving up so it’s a really good situation to be in.”
Pro Continental is the second-highest level in professional cycling, with WorldTour squads like Team Sky and Orica GreenEdge in the top echelon.
NFTO Pro Cycling is currently a third tier Continental team, like An Post-Chainreaction.
Dunbar spent around 125km of the 180km Cote Picarde Nations Cup race in France last Wednesday up the road, 100km of which he was out front alone. A big international win is surely just around the corner (Photo: Stephen McMahon – Sportsfile)
But additional financial backing can help it move up the ranks to ProContinental next year.
Many ProContinental teams ride the world's biggest races, including the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia.
If NFTO were to move up it would be at the same level as, for example, Matt Brammeier's MTN-Quebeka, Stephen Clancy's Novo-Nordisk and Sam Bennett's Bora-Argon 18.
Pro Continental status requires teams to meet the UCI’s ethical, financial and administrative criteria and squads must consist of a minimum of 16 riders.
The UCI requires new applications to the ProContinental ranks for next year to be received before August 1st this year.
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