Shane Archbold, then of An Post-Chainreaction, celebrates as he crosses the line to win stage 2 of the 2013 Rás from Longford to Nenagh (Photo: Paul Mohan-Sportsfile)
A former wing man of Sam Bennett in the pro peloton, Shane Archbold has become the latest rider to join Evo Pro Racing.
The Irish Continental team has snapped him up after Archbold was one of the riders caught out by the collapse of Aqua Blue Sport.
Archbold comes originally from the track and he took silver in the omnium at the World Championships in 2011.
Then at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 he won gold in the scratch race and bronze in the team pursuit.
The 29-year-old began is pro road racing career in 2012 with the Marco Polo Continental team.
In 2013 and 2014 he rode for An Post-Chainreaction, teaming up with Sam Bennett during his first year with the Irish team.
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Bennett won a stage of the 2013 Tour of Britain and secured a contract with ProContinental team NetApp-Endura.
And in 2015 Archbold joined him there as it became Bora-Argon 18, riding again for the squad in 2016.
After Bennett crashed into Utah Beach on the opening stage of the 2016 Tour, Archbold helped him every day.
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But then the Kiwi had a massive fall of his own later in the race. He mangled himself on stage 17; tearing his flesh and breaking his pelvis.
He remounted and finished the stage but his season was over. The team then moved up to WorldTour level as Bora-hansgrohe in 2017.
However, Archbold was injured for most of that season. He did not return to racing properly for 15 months after the Tour 2016 crash.
This year he moved on and rode with ProContinental team Aqua Blue Sport. He joins Aaron Gate, another Kiwi, in joining Evo Pro Racing following the demise of Aqua Blue.
Archbold is an experienced lead-out man. However, he is also a rider who could take his own chances for Evo Pro Racing if some come his way.
On the right celebrating after teaming up to deliver Bennett to a WorldTour win and leader’s jersey at the Tour of Turkey last year.
Helping his then Irish team mate get to the finish of the Tour de France's opening stage into Utah Beach in 2016.
Archbold getting back to his feet after a bad crash on the 2016 Tour de France. He completed the stage but was forced to abandon the race.
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