Irish An Post-Chainreaction riders ready for big test in France
Sean McKenna is one of three Irish riders in the An Post-Chainreaction team for the French stage race getting underway today.
Having enjoyed a very strong Rás, in which the team won three stages, the An Post-Chainreaction Irish riders are back in action in France today.
There are three Irishmen in the five-rider line-up for Ronde de l’Oise (UCI 2.2); Damien Shaw, Conor Hennebry and Sean McKenna.
They are joined by Rás stage winner and king of the mountains Przemysław Kasperkiewicz, as well as Mark Stewart.
There are 700km to race before the race concludes on Sunday. The course includes 16 categorised climbs.
It means the event in the Hauts-de-France region of France poses a stern test.
Related News
Shaw enjoyed a very strong Rás. And while he would have liked a stage win, he was ever-present among a handful of the strongest men in the field.
Advertisement
He finished 5th overall and will feel he can do more in the months ahead. He also rode very strongly in France before the Rás.
Shaw won a stage of the Tour du Loir et Cher (UCI 2.2) and held the yellow jersey there in April.
And he rode very well at Le Tour de Bretagne Cycliste (2.2) last month, going on the attack and almost claiming a stage.
Sean McKenna and Conor Hennebry
Sean McKenna played second-fiddle to Shaw and fellow Irish rider and team mate Matt Teggart in the Rás; the latter winning a stage and holding the yellow jersey.
However, McKenna's support role hid a good ride and we have yet to see what he is really capable of.
For his part, Hennebry is new to Continental level this year and has been sidelined with injury for a time of late.
He will feel his season is only starting and the best is yet to come. The racing in France begins today, Thursday.
Topics
