Inside An Post-Chainreaction's first winter training camp in Spain

The man who knows the riders best said the An Post-Chainreaction 2015 squad is training well at their camp in Spain and looking forward to proving themselves in the New Year. Above, Jack Wilson and Conor Dunne in the group today, Thursday.

 

 

The An Post-Chainreaction team has convened to Calpe in Spain’s south-eastern corner for its first official training camp ahead of the 2015 season.

The full 13-rider roster for next year is present along with former team member Sam Bennett and will be all logging plenty of miles in the milder climes of the Mediterranean.

The camp is also an opportunity for the riders to get to know each other better, with numerous new faces having come in during the off season.

Team manager Kurt Bogaerts has the full assistance of the team’s staff, with the principal Sean Kelly also present to check out his charges.

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“We’ve been coming here for a few years now and find the place has everything we need for a successful camp,” Bogaerts explained.

 

 

   

 

“The weather is very good for this time of the year and the roads are excellent for training; quiet, with plenty hills and long drags.

“The focus of the camp will be to introduce the riders to one another so that everyone becomes familiar with the team and what we are about.

“One of the things we have always done as a team is generate a very good team spirit on and off the bike and that helps us in races during the year.

“We have guys who are willing to work for each other and the team and that is not something you can decide on the day in the crucial moment of a race. It must be developed and grown from a long way out.

“We learn a lot about each of the riders at camps like this, they are fun, but they are not easy."

 

Sean Downey is now one of the old hands in the squad; seen here on the road in Spain today with new team mate for 2015 Eoin McCarthy. Riders only ditch the clothing of the team they are leaving in favour of their new squad from January 1st when their transfers become effective.  

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The team has a number of new faces for next year with Irish U23 Eoin McCarthy joining.

Fellow Irishman Marcus Christie has left the team after one year, joining American squad Bissell-ABG-Giant Team last month.

There is some real firepower among the newcomers in the form of former Orica-GreenEDGE rider Aidis Kruopis.

The Lithuanian will be joined by compatriot and national road champion Paulius Siskevicius who has also signed.

Belgian rider Xandro Meurisse is also present in Calpe having joined from Lotto-Belisol, where he was a stagiaire.  

 

Irish champion Ryan Mullen and Lithuanian champion Paulius Siskevicius enjoy the Spanish sunshine.  

 

He links up with compatriots Alexander Maes and Jens Vandenbogaerde, who have also made the switch.

Britain’s Alistair Slater, who finished third in the youth classification at this year’s An Post Rás, is another youngster who will debut with the team early next year.

“We have riders who are starting at this level and riders who are no stranger to this level, so we have a bit of a mixed bag,” said Bogaerts.

"But we are an exciting team and one that is very motivated. I can see that already in the guys.

“They are keen to prove their worth and I am keen to see what they are made of too. I’m excited for this week.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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