Ryan Reilly, in yellow, is the latest young Irish rider to land a place in a UCI Continental-ranked team for next season.
Having shown great promise at home and abroad in recent seasons, Irish teenager Ryan Reilly has become the latest signing for new Continental-level team Dynamo Cover.
But the Derry man is not about to throw himself head first into the pro cycling game, opting instead to continue with his studies in tandem with joining the new squad.
The team, which is backed by the UK-based Dynamo Cover insurance company, has signed a clutch of Irish riders and will be registered in Ireland next year.
Reilly’s signing, which was anticipated, has been unveiled just days after it emerged brothers Sean and Mark Downey along with Philip Lavery and Mark Dowling had also committed to the team for next season.
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Reilly has already considerable experience of the foreign peloton, having race for AC Bisontine in France last year, the same set-up where Lavery did so well two years ago.
More recently, Reilly competed in the colours of Hennebont Cycling this season, which also played host to fellow Irish rider Daniel Stewart who has just signed for An Post-Chainreaction.
It has emerged Reilly, a former Ulster road race champion, will only take his place with the team in the spring after his studies have been completed.
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He said while it would likely prove difficult to combine college with racing, he was looking forward to the challenge of riding against the professionals in Britain and France.
“My priority is to finish my studies and get my degree while maintaining a good level of competition,” he said.
“I’ll ride in Irish races at first and then come back to Brittany to learn the job and support my team mates.
“I am very grateful for this fantastic opportunity and I thank all those who have contributed in recent years to help me get to that level.”
Reilly, leading, made the breakthrough when he won the combined elite and junior race at the Ulster Road Race Championships last year (Photo: Toby Watson)
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