Video: Irish riders' new pro team targets big invite in first year

Holdsworth cycling team

Ireland's Dermot Trulock, far left, Sean McKenna second from left and Damien Shaw second from right training with the new Holdsworth cycling team. They are hopeful of rubbing shoulders with, and taking the fight to, the very biggest names in pro cycling in coming months.

 

Holdsworth cycling team seeks Tour Yorkshire invite

 

The new Holdsworth cycling team, which features five Irish riders on its roster, is targeting a ride in the Tour de Yorkshire.

Owned by ASO, which also owns the Tour de France; an invite to the event in the team’s first year would be a major boost.

The Irish in the Continental-level Holdsworth cycling team are: Conn McDunphy, Dermot Trulock, Sean McKenna, Damien Shaw and Bryan McCrystal.

It will mainly ride the UK circuit but is also expected to compete abroad. If it were to secure a place at the Tour de Yorkshire it would be the biggest race of the team’s maiden season.

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Moreover, because it is based in Yorkshire, and sponsored by a bike brand from there; management is hoping for an invite.

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An application to compete has been lodged with ASO. And the team says it now must wait to see if it has been successful.

The two biggest British names attached to the project are brothers Russ and Dean Downing; as rider and performance coach respectively.

Russ Downing said he was “very excited to be working with a Yorkshire brand; a Yorkshire team”.

And he was hopeful that would count when the invites were being issued for the Tour de Yorkshire. It runs from May 3rd to 6th and will feature some of the biggest WorldTour teams in the sport.

“We’ve put an official application in. It’s in their hands now,” Downing said of the ASO and race organisers in Britain.

“Generally they invite several teams. And we’re hoping to be one of them. So fingers crossed we can get some results this season and be on the start line.”

 

 

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