McConvey in the recent Vlaamse Pijl Stannah (Photo: [email protected])
Sean Downey will be the only Irish rider in the An Post-Sean Kelly team in action in Belgium in coming days, with Connor McConvey having again been sidelined with flu along with Sam Bennett.
Both riders first came down with flu last month, with Bennett unable to start the Volta ao Algarve and McConvey being forced out of the same race when he became ill.
Since then, both have ridden some races but have now been hit by a second wave of their illness. Bennett also missed last weekend and the team have said this evening that he will not be in action again until at least next week. And now McConvey has also been sidelined again for the team’s next assignment tomorrow, Friday.
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That unfortunate turn of events for both means Downey is the lone Irishman in action in tomorrow’s Handzame Classic (1.1) in Belgium.
The team has been performing well recently with wins in the Pro Wanzele (1.2), with Niko Eeckhout, and Kattekoers (1.2), with Roy Jans, in the past week.
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Gediminas Bagdonas was also third in the Omloop Van Het Waasland (1.2) on Sunday and yesterday in the Nokere Koerse (1.1) he was unfortunate to crash approaching the finish when he was looking good for a possible win or high placing.
An Post-Sean Kelly manager Kurt Bogaerts said he was happy with the recent results and is hoping for more.
“The team have been riding well and working hard for each other. We were unfortunate at the Nokere-Koerse as Gediminas was in a strong position when the crash happened but thankfully he suffered no major injuries and is OK to ride this weekend which is the most important thing.”
“The team had a good result last year at the Handzame Classic claiming second place so if we continue to perform like we have been then we have a good chance of a top three finish.”
Downey lines out in the 195km Handzame with Niko Eeckhout, Joren Segers, Roy Jans, Pieter Ghyllebert, Mark McNally, Mark Christian and Bagdonas.
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