Philip Lavery had planned to race again with French team AC Bisontine but has now signed a contract with a pro team instead for a welcome return to the international peloton.
By Shane Stokes
Hours after it was confirmed that Sean Downey would reverse his previous decision to retire from international competition, racing with the Team Dynamo Cover squad in 2016, his former team-mate Philip Lavery has been confirmed as joining the same squad.
Lavery retired from the sport prior to the start of the 2015 season but was recently confirmed as coming back to the peloton.
He had planned to return to race with the AC Bisontine squad in France, but Dynamo Cover convinced him to sign.
“It’s thanks to Pascal Orlandi, the manager of AC Bisontine,” he said.
“I saw him on the Junior Tour and we were in contact since I left his team two years ago. I decided to return to cycling to go back to his team and to quickly regain my level.”
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Lavery said that he was then approached by Dynamo Cover and while the team initially wanted to wait until after 2016, seeing how he would fare in his return with AC Bisontine, it then decided to move sooner.
“Yann Dejan decided to take me away in the end and, in view of my ability, to take a chance,” he said of his new manager.
“I spoke to Pascal Orlandi who supported me in this new route. I owe a lot to Pascal.”
When racing in the past Lavery was one of Irish cycling’s most talented riders of his generation.
After success as a junior, he rode with the An Post Sean Kelly team from August 2010 until the end of 2011, then moved to the Node 4 Giordana team.
Lavery riding in the colours of Cofidis during a trial in the latter part of the 2013 season after a fantastic campaign in France. Outside factors very much worked against him when it came to securing a contract for the following year.
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A stint with AC Bisontine followed and after results such as silver in the Irish road race championships and fifth on a stage of the Tour de Beauce, he secured a stagiaire slot with the Cofidis team.
It was thought he would sign a pro contract with the team for 2014, but it ultimately didn’t turn WorldTour and thus had less slots available.
The collapse of a number of other pro teams and promised teams also saw a lot of out of contract established pros on the market, which worked against the Dubliner.
Disillusioned with that, he competed for some time with the Synergy Baku squad but had an anonymous season and quit cycling.
Fortunately he has had a rethink and his naming today as the 11th rider out of the 16-rider roster at Dynamo Cover gives him another shot.
“It’s clear that it is a bit challenge,” he said.
“Some have no faith in me after these months of absence and I know it will be hard in the beginning and that will not be easy. But Yann Dejan will do a good job with me.”
He said that questions about his form will spur him on.
“This challenge is not a problem for me. If someone says to me that I can’t do something, you better be sure because I will give every bit of my body, my brain and for sure every race to prove them wrong.
“And it is a challenge that really motivates me, I can promise you that.”
Team manager Dejan has faith. “Yes, it’s a gamble on Philip. I am sure he has great ability and I will take him in hand.
“In a short time he will do what he does best. A gamble, perhaps, but a sure bet.”
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