Aqua Blue Sport is adding more events to its programme in early part of the season and will face the biggest names in the sport immediately the new campaign begins. The riders will take on the blistering heat and strong crosswinds that the Tour of Oman is famous for and possibly Abu Dhabi Tour.
By Brian Canty
Ireland’s first ProContinental team Aqua Blue Sport will follow the upcoming Cadel Evans Ocean Race and the Herald Sun Tour with a place on the start-line at the Tour of Oman.
The 2.HC-ranked race starts on Tuesday, February 14th, and runs for six days.
The seventh staging of the event this year was won by Italian Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) while Chris Froome (Team Sky) is a two-time winner, sealing victory in 2013 and 2014.
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Aqua Blue Sport has not yet named its team for the race though it’s likely several of the riders headed to Australia will be part of the roster for the event.
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It’s a tough early-season contest often held in very difficult conditions.
Such were the sandstorms, extreme temperatures and high winds that hit the race on stage five last year that it was cancelled.
Both Sam Bennett and Dan Martin competed this year, with the former taking fifth on the final stage.
Aqua Blue Sport is hoping to race in the Dubai Tour from January 31st to February 4th but “regrettably” they’ll be unable to.
“We’re off to the Middle East so we’ll do a block there,” said team owner Rick Delaney.
“Then we’re back into Europe, we won’t do Dubai. We just simply can’t because it clashes with the Sun Tour.
“Fingers crossed we’re trying to get Abu Dhabi (February 23rd-27th) but as we speak we don’t have Abu Dhabi, we don’t have an offer.”
The team is currently working on its schedule for the early European races.
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