Carlow man Ken Blanche is enjoying life as a soigneur with UK-based continental squad NFTO. The team boast a strong roster of mainly English riders but their trump card is 18 year-old Irishman Eddie Dunbar, left (Picture with thanks to Tristan Cardew)
By Brian Canty
Well-known Irish soigneur Ken Blanche will work with the UK-based NFTO team for the upcoming Tour of Britain, from September 6th to13th, following stints with the squad at a number of races and training camps this year.
The Carlow man joins a long list of Irish soigneurs working inside the professional cycling ranks and has just returned from a 10-day camp in Girona with the team.
Blanche was first approached by the team before the An Post Rás in May and things have progressed from there.
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“It came about through Eddie,” said Blanche of the UK-based Continental team’s young star turne Eddie Dunbar.
Blanche worked with Dunbar last season on a number of Irish teams and was a key member of the support staff with Dunbar and Michael O’Loughlin dominated last year’s Junior Tour of Ireland.
“I was working with Irish teams for the Junior Tour and Rás Mumhan and I knew Eddie through his Carlow connections and his time on Irish teams,”Blance explained.
“He asked me a month before the Rás on behalf of the team would I be interested in working with them and I said yes.”
With Blanche’s help at the Rás, the team took a stage win in Ballinamore and held the climbers’ jersey for much of the eight-day race.
Blanche with his charges during this year's Junior Tour. Left to right: Jake Gray, Marc Heaney, Blanche, Darragh O'Mahoney and Simon Tuomey.
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“They’re a very professional team at Continental level and no expense is spared,” he explained.
“It was hard work looking after five guys for eight days but I got well rewarded.
“The riders and staff looked after me and are a very appreciative, decent, mannerly bunch of guys.
“I probably did six 18-hour days; up at 6 o’clock in the morning and working until 12 o’clock at night but I loved it.
“It’s not just massaging, it’s washing bottles and preparing food and because I put a massive effort into it, it paid off.
“And they repaid me by bringing me to a training camp in Girona and the chance to work on the Tour of Britain.”
In next month’s British encounter NFTO Pro Cycling will be among the smallest squads but will line up against some of the strongest teams in the world.
“It’ll be a step up from the Rás but we’re very excited about that.” Said Banche, clearly relishing the prospect of working in such an elite environment.
“The team has some superstars. I’ve seen first-hand the strength in depth they have in their climbing, sprinting and leadouts; they’ve a couple of lads who could surprise a few.”
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