Sean Hahessy is a huge addition to the Fitscience team for the coming season. The former Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers man had little difficulty moving up from the A3 ranks to A1, rode his debut An Post Rás and won a stage of the Suir Valley Three-Day (Photo: Martine Verfaille)
The Ballina-based Fitscience squad have finalised its line-up in advance of the new season with a couple of very decent acquisitions from around the country.
Though probably lacking the firepower of the likes of assembled squads Aquablue CC, Team Asea and UCD, the Connacht team has the makings of a promising set-up capable of springing a few surprises.
Paddy Clarke will once again lead their challenge.
After a stellar 2014 season saw him claim a string of wins in the early season, he will be motivated to replicate that form.
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He wore the yellow jersey into the final day of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan but was denied victory by Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) in the final kilometres.
Paddy Clarke wins the Andy Walsh Memorial Criterium in Ballina, Co Mayo, last September. The Mayo man will once again be a key rider for Fitscience this year (Photo: James Wright Photography)
Clarke was a regular fixture in results throughout the season, rarely finishing outside the top 10 and ending the season eighth best in Cycling Ireland’s rankings. He was also secured a nomination for domestic Irish rider of the year.
Around him this year will be talented U23 Irish international Jason Prendergast whose exam commitments last year curtailed his programme but he still managed a handful of victories.
His older brother Charlie will be a welcome addition to the team for this year.
The former junior road race national champion boasts a big reputation.
But having missed all of last year through injury it will be interesting to see what kind of form he can get back to now that he’s in full-time employment.
Three additions to the team for 2015 are Sean Hahessy, Mark Reilly and Cale Coen, formerly of Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers, Lucan CRC and Ballina CC, respectively.
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Cale Coen, then with Castlebar CC, on his way to second place on the stage 1 time trial at last year's Junior Tour. Now with Fitscience, he can do a lot more with his racing this year (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
Hahessy is in his second year at U23 level and enjoyed a very good year last year, starting at A3 and working his way right up to A1.
He won a fantastic stage 2 of the Suir Valley Three-Day into Clonmel when he outsprinted Ryan Sherlock after breaking away late in the day.
Mark Reilly had an excellent year also, finishing 17th in Cycling Ireland’s A1 rankings. His biggest win was the overall at the Gorey Three-Day where he also took a stage win.
The victory in the Donamon Grand Prix in Roscommon was no less impressive as he rode away from a strong field with Neil Long (Dublin Wheelers) and had over two minutes to spare on the bunch by the finish.
Charlie Prendergast, leading, is a very talented rider coming back from injury and looking to regain his form in the colours of Fitscience this year (Photo: Pawel Sadowski – Shutterstills.com)
Cale Coen is another rider with a lot of talent and enters his first year au U23 level with the team.
The Leaving Cert student was second to Michael O’Loughlin in the prologue of last year’s Junior Tour of Ireland and he’ll be motivated to show what he can do.
Three riders who won’t be with the team this year are Eddie Barry who moves to MODA Kingdom Endurance Sports team, Chris Reilly now with Team Asea) and Gareth McCormack who will race with Ballina CC this year.
Fitscience plans to race all the major events throughout the season, placing an emphasis on the new National Road Series as well as the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, the An Post Rás and the Suir Valley Three-Day.
The squad also boasts a strong A3 line-up of up to a dozen riders and will look to make an impact there, starting with their own Fitscience GP in a little over three weeks’ time.
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