Sean Kelly & Kurt Bogaerts: “We’re expecting some big results this year”

Team director Sean Kelly wants to win the An Post Rás again (Photo: Grant Thornton)

An Post team director, Sean Kelly has said the Rás is a major target for his team in 2012 and a race the riders were determined to win again this year.

“We’re looking forward to returning to Ireland for the Rás and defending Bagdonas’ title. This year will be extra special as it’s the 60th anniversary of the race, so there will an added incentive for us to perform well in front of our Irish fans.”

He made his comments speaking to the media and team sponsors at the official 2012 team unveiling in Brussels today.

An Post-Sean Kelly manager, Kurt Bogaerts said while developing young riders was a major goal for him, he also expects his experienced riders to get big results this year.

The team’s very strong performance last year meant expectations were high for the coming season.

“We had an excellent year in 2011 and I expect us to be at that level again this season,” he said.

Success in the An Post Ras – with two stage wins and GC victory – as well as a stage win in the Tour of Britain and overall victory in the La Mi-Août en Bretagne were perhaps the stand-out wins from a host of victories.

However, the squad also rode particularly well as a unit in some races and it is that factor that has seen it move onto a higher level in the minds of many observers.

Irish fans will be hoping that when the team rides the Ras, it will be the Irish riders who will get the opportunity to go for results themselves rather than playing a support role during their one key home race of the year.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

Bogaerts said in Brussels today the future would be a delicate mix of developing younger team members while still picking off the wins needed for the entire team to progress.

“We’ve made plenty of new signings with a lot of talented young riders coming on board, so for some it will be a case of developing them long term but the team still has that level of experience required to get some big results over the year.”

“I think the squad looks very strong this year. We were able to keep riders like Bagdonas and McNally, who had done enough to make the next step up to the Pro Tour. However, circumstances changed and although I was disappointed they didn’t get their move it means we retained two good riders.”

The Irish riders on the team in 2012 include re-signings Mark Cassidy, Ronan McLaughlin, Connor McConvey and Sam Bennett. The only new Irish rider to sign for this year is Sean Downey.

Speaking in Brussels today, Downey said he was very happy with his new set up.

“My first few weeks with the team have been really enjoyable. We had a couple of great training camps in Calpe and then racing in the Étoile de Bessèges last week was a tough, but good experience. I’m hungry for more of these opportunities to show what I can do.”

Some of the other new riders on the team have already tasted victory this year, albeit riding for national and regional teams in their home countries rather than An Post-Sean Kelly colours.

Scott Law last month won the Australian U23 national criterium title and Mark Christian won the British madison title on the track.

On the road, the team’s veteran sprinter Niko Eeckhout finished second on a stage of the Étoile de Bessèges.