Philip Finegan with two of his charges from this year, Matthew Teggart and Mark Downey; two very strong riders who have both won Junior Tour stages and look good for the years ahead.
By Brian Canty
Philip Finnegan has defended the junior racing scene in Ireland following comments made by Irish cycling legend Sean Kelly last month.
In an interview with stickybottle at the An Post-Chainreaction training camp in Spain, Kelly said he was “concerned” about the lack of talent coming through.
Finnegan, a top domestic amateur in his day and current manager of junior Nicolas Roche Performance Team and mentor to many junior riders, said he found the remarks “strange”.
However, he agreed with Kelly’s view that Irish juniors needed to be exposed to harder races.
“When I read the article I thought it was a bit strange because we’re probably comparing the junior riders to 20 years ago when there was 200 riders in the Junior Tour,” said Finnegan.
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“And if you’ve 200 riders you’re bound to have 20 good riders from it.
“Okay, this year we might have had 55 Irish riders but there was still eight or nine very good riders.
“If you look at the talent that’s there with Eddie (Dunbar) and Dylan (O’Brien) and Stephen (Shanahan) and others...”
Sean Kelly recently expressed his concern that the junior scene in Ireland was small and, with a couple of exceptions, he was worried about the talent coming through.
Finnegan stressed huge work was being done to try to bring young riders through, not least in his own role with the Nicolas Roche Performance Team.
“Matt Teggart, Dylan Foley, Eddie (Dunbar) have all progressed and David McCarthy is a surprise package," he said in reference to the Cork man who has jumped from domestic racing to UK-based Continental team JLT-Condor.
“Without teams like us in place those riders wouldn’t have the opportunity (to race at a higher level)," he added.
Related reading - Sean Kelly: “I’m concerned about the Irish scene; it’s not healthy at all”
“If you look upon the whole landscape of cycling; since Sean’s time it’s changed totally.
“Even years ago when guys went to the UK and became pros, like Gary Thompson; those days are gone.
“It’s very easy to criticise if you’re not there on a day to day basis," Finnegan added in reference to Kelly.
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Finegan on the road in France with a selection of elite riders; he has been focussed on trying to teach young riders how to ride in a team and prepare for perhaps taking the step to European racing.
He is the figure at the head of the Belgian-based An Post-Chainreaction team managed day to day by Kurt Bogaerts.
“Sean looks after his U23s but I found it a bit strange that he said those things and a couple of days later Kurt is saying we shouldn’t be putting too much pressure on juniors.”
Finnegan was referring to a stickybottle interview Bogaerts gave when he spoke about the need to manage young riders carefully.
“You give the riders the opportunity but they have to grasp it; I’m hoping we’ll have two or three junior teams down the road,” said Finnegan.
"I know Lucan CRC are doing a fantastic job at the moment with some of their juniors.
"So there might come a time when we’ve four or five (teams like NRPT) in a couple of years, like they have in the UK.
"And then we’re going to get good riders on the track and the road.
Star turn Eddie Dunbar was one of a number of top junior riders to guest with Finegan's team in races abroad last year (Photo: Andréa Quémener)
“It’s better having it (teams like us) than not, but I think there’s a very, very good standard of juniors there now.
“The only thing I’d like to see is them riding more cat 1 and 2 races during the year, rather than being stuck in the A3 races.
“Those races are too short. But then again, if you look at the World Championships (junior road race); it’s not a particularly long course either.
“That’s why it’s important we get away and ride against the best juniors in Europe and that’s what we’re trying to do.
"We're looking to get a stage race in September late on in the US as prep for the Worlds (in Virginia in September).
“I’d be hoping we can have two or three guys on the team there,” he said in reference to the Irish junior line-up for the Worlds.
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