Philip Lavery – leading – on his way to the silver medal at the National Road Race Championships in Carlingford, Co Louth. He will ride in the colours of Team U Nantes Atlantique next year (Photo: Toby Watson)
Philip Lavery will ride for French DN1 Team U Nantes Atlantique next season when he returns to international racing.
The Dubliner was due to ride for Dynamo Cover in 2016 but when that deal collapsed two weeks ago, he was left to search for a new squad.
But such is his reputation in France after an excellent 2013 season, when he claimed a number of big wins, Lavery has found himself in what looks like a very good squad.
Directeur sportif Sébastien Cottier said he was pleased to have signed the spirited Irishman.
"When I knew that Dynamo Cover project would not (happen), I immediately thought of Philip Lavery. Ok, it's a gamble but… I think it is not a mistake”.
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Cottier added the team, made up of 13 riders mostly between the ages of 18 and 21 years, had initially also signed two South Africans.
“But they have signed for a pro team and then suddenly we had a place for Philip. He is 25 (with) solid pro and elite experience and a huge desire to give his best.”
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 before it collapsed two weeks ago.
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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.
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 and is now returning.
Lavery recently launched a GoFundMe.com page to help allay the cost of training and racing full-time next year following the collapse of Dynamo Cover.
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