On his way to a very strong finish at the European Championships at the weekend. Mark Downey hasn't stopped making progress since the drop of the first flag this year.
One of the relentless achievers of Irish cycling in recent years, Mark Downey's medals at junior and U23 European Track Championships as well as his prowess on the road have seen him snapped up for next year already by a new team.
Having been based in France this year, his second season out of the juniors, Downey goes back there for 2017. But this time he will ride for CC Etupes Le Doubs Pays de Montbeliard.
The D1 squad boasts an impressive reputation for sending riders on to the next level and ultimately the WorldTour.
Those who have passed through its ranks in recent years include Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge), Warren Barguil (Giant Alpecin) and Petr Vakoc (Etixx-QuickStep) to name but a few (see panel below).
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And the fact the Banbridge rider has already been signed after being pursued by the team for months confirms the impact he has made this year in France.
Downey shows his delight at winning stage 6 of the Tour Nivernais Morvan in central France in June (Photo: Laurine Philippe)
He told stickybottle he was delighted with the move, which was revealed by the team on social media today, Monday.
"For such a prestigious team to be constantly on to me to get me for next season has given me a lot of confidence," he said.
"It's based in Etupes, a small village just an hour from Basel airport. They have a great program that will hopefully help get me a (pro) contract.
"I've learned a lot this year and I'm hoping with a good winter behind me I can do well," he added.
"I can take a lot of confidence from my result at the Euros," he said of his 14th place last weekend in the U23 road race at the European Championships in France.
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“I definitely wouldn’t have been up there without the team; everybody did their part.
"It was a great team showing and a great atmosphere and I really genuinely appreciate how the lads rode on the day, it’s something I’d never take for granted.
"I was racing the best and when I'm on a good day I'm not far away from so, yes, I'm very excited to get on the move next year."
Downey went clear with Team GB star and world champion Jonathan Dibben in the U23 points race at the Euros and they were 1st and 2nd(Photo courtesy Cycling Ireland)
Downey (20) was one of the very best youth riders in the country and held that position into the junior ranks when he won the national TT title and a silver medal in the points race at the European Track Championships.
He also represented Ireland at the World Road Championships as a junior, in the road race and TT, and gained selection for the junior track Worlds.
As an U23 rider he has represented Ireland at home and abroad on the road, including at the Nations Cup, and has ridden the elite World Cups on the track.
This year he has really stepped up a gear, taking an excellent 13th place overall in the An Post Rás and winning silver at the European Track Championships in the U23 points race.
And in France this year won the 167.8km final stage of the Tour Nivernais Morvan in central France in June riding for his Division Two 2016 outfit VC Toucy.
Etupes 'past pupils' currently in the pro ranks
The team was keen to announce Downey's signing....
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