Irish pros on social; best posts and envy-inducing photos of festive period

It was a big year for Irish pro cyclists, with many wins, teams going by the wayside and others starting out.

The Irish pro cyclists are now returning to the serious business of preparing for the 2019 campaign after the Christmas and New Year break.

Here's a taster, from social media, of what they've been up to and where they've been hanging out during the holiday period.

 

The champion, Conor Dunne

When Aqua Blue Sport stopped Conor Dunne switched from the troublesome, one-chainring, 3T team bike onto this beauty. Aside from being the only bike we've ever seen that would fit four bottle cages (at a push), it's a very handsome machine. Irish road race champion Dunne previously rode for JLT-Condor, and it was Condor Cycles who supplied him with this rothar. It's also emerald green; befitting an Irish champ. And the paint job was done by Fat Creations; a company well worth checking out right here.

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Bora-hansgrohe sprinter Sam Bennett

Sam Bennett is coming off his best season ever in 2018, winning three Grand Tour stages; all at the Giro. And he looks to be on track for a great year in 2019. But all work and no play makes for a dull existence, and so Bennett found time to give the squeeze box a good, well, squeeze at a pre-Christmas team get-together. And on New Year's Day he was out pounding home roads with coach and mentor Martin O'Loughlin of Carrick-on-Suir.

 

Shannon McCurley straight out of the traps

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It may have been only the first day of the year but already Shannon McCurley was hard at it. She was in action in the Bay Cycling Classic criterium in Australia. The Irish track sprinter finished 3rd. She was in very good company. The winner of some of the biggest races in the world, and a silver medalist at the Worlds in Innsbruck last September, Amanda Spratt took victory. She was followed by Australian criterium champion Rebecca Wiasak and then McCurley.

 

Ryan Mullen, best New Year's Eve message

The best New Year's Eve message, certainly the one that would induce most envy, has to go to Irish TT champ Ryan Mullen. He headed to Australia at the end of the season and shared this photo of beer on the beach to help usher in the New Year. The shot was taken some time ago; beer time long over for Mullen and the rest of the pros with the new season just ahead. He has also shared the shot below; not over the holidays but it was too cool to ignore (right down to the shoes).

Nicolas Roche shares the view

Another of the pro riders causing plenty of envy and angst in sodden and grey Ireland over the holidays was Nicolas Roche. He's beginning life as a Team Sunweb rider and has been out and about in southern France under blue skies. This shot is of Eze, just outside Nice.

 

Matt Brammeier on Christmas Day

Matt Brammeier may be an ex-pro now, but there's no getting away from cycling for the four-time Irish road champion. He was in Zolder over Christmas, where his wife Nikki, one of the best cyclocross riders in the world, was in action.

 

Mark Downey, inches away

Mark Downey posted this shot of being just inches from the bronze at the Commonwealth Games back in April as he reflected on his 2018 season over the holidays. Downey, who will ride for EvoPro Racing this year, had a fantastic 2018 but it was a case of what might have been; more than once. Not only did he miss out on a medal in Australia, he was also 2nd in stages of the Tour de l'Avenir and Volta ao Alentejo (2.2) in Portugal; the latter where he was also 2nd in the points classification and 3rd overall. He was also 4th on a stage at the Baby Giro and 3rd at the national championships.

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