Felix English riding the Bay Crits in Australia with Rapha Condor JLT last year. In January he'll be joined Down Under by new Irish team mate Jack Sadler, though Aaron Buggle has departed the UK-based Continental squad (Photo: Jarrod Partridge)
The 2013 road season may have only just ended, but it appears Felix English and Jack Sadler will be the first Irish riders into action next year, having just been named on the Rapha Condor-JLT squad for 2014.
The UK-based Continental ranked team is set to ride the Bay Criteriums in Australia in January and also the Herald Sun Tour.
With both Irishmen very fast sprinters, they will get a chance to test their kick in the post-Christmas sunshine Down Under during their extended racing and training trip.
English has already been with the team for two years and rode some of the races on the Australian trip last year. However, the 2012 National Criterium Champion has progressed significantly in crits over the past 12 months and should challenge for victories from the off in 2014.
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He took a number of strong wins on the pro criterium scene in the UK during the season, not to mention a string of placings. And if he were to improve by the same margin next year he will be well on his way to becoming one of the best UK-based crit riders.
Sadler, who is moving to Continental level straight out of the junior ranks, took two stages in the Junior Tour of Ireland this year from bunch sprints and also represented Ireland at the World Junior Track Championships.
He claimed a total of six wins in junior races this season and as a fast and crafty sprinter who can also get over climbs, he is definitely one to watch in the next couple of years.
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His recruitment is part of the team’s refocus on youth in recent years as it builds for the future with a new group of riders; a plan English was also recruited under two years back.
Aaron Buggle also benefitted from that emphasis on youth when he was recruited by the team 12 months ago. However, a number of concussions have halted his racing and he has now begun to pursue a career in modelling and the media.
Speaking about Sadler at the official announcement today of the team’s 2014 roster, Rapha Condor-JLT manager John Herety said he believed the teenager was a real talent.
“Jack is another rider who has come recommended to me through Neil Martin and his involvement at Irish cycling,” he said.
“Being able to take on riders as soon as they step up to the senior categories means that we can start to teach young riders to do things correctly from the very start whilst giving them the opportunities to develop that they need.”
Rapha Condor JLT’s 2014 season will get underway in January at the Bay Crits in Melbourne, before the team returns to the Jayco Herald Sun Tour later in January.
Full team roster 2014
Graham Briggs
Hugh Carthy
Ed Clancy
Mike Cuming
Felix English
Luke Grivell Mellor
Richard Handley
Kristian House
Ed Laverack
Tom Moses
Chris Opie
Elliott Porter
Jack Sadler
Will Stephenson
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