A first-year U23 rider and a second-year in the category - Mark Donovan and Ethan Hayter (above) - have been signed by Team Sky for a trial until the end of the year.
Ethan Hayter, Mark Donovan new Team Sky stagiaires
Team Sky has signed two young stagiaires for the remainder of the season; Ethan Hayter and Mark Donovan.
They will race with the WorldTour outfit in what is essentially a trial basis. Stagiaire periods are intended to expose young riders to a higher level of competition.
They also enable teams get a close-up look at how emerging young riders respond to the pressures of the pro scene.
Mark Donovan is aged 19 years and has been a team mate of three young Irish riders on Team Wiggins this year.
Donovan, who is shaping up as a climber and general classification rider has competed alongside Michael O’Loughlin, Matt Downey and Mark Teggart this season.
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He was 4th overall at the Baby Giro and took the race lead at one point. He also won a terrific hilly stage in the Giro della Valle d’Aosta Mont Blanc.
From Penrith in England, he rode for Zappi last year, when still a junior, before signing for Team Wiggins.
Zappi is a quality British-based junior and U23 team with a European programme. Among its roster this year is Irish junior TT champion Ben Healy.
While still only a first-year U23 rider, Mark Donovan has done incredibly well to get a shot with Team Sky.
Mark Donovan, right, with Irish rider Mark Downey at the Baby Giro six weeks ago.
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“I never really thought I’d get the chances and results that I did,” Donovan said of how this year has gone so far.
“After the results I got I think this is the perfect way to end the year and a really nice opportunity.
“I spent a few days with the team at their December camp last year. Obviously the team are the best out there at the moment and one of the top teams for a young rider to be looking to go to.
“I think it fits me really well and it’s a great development team for GC riders and climbers, especially with people like Egan Bernal, Tao Geoghegan Hart and those guys.
“As a rider I’d say I’m a bit of an all-rounder. I can go well on the climbs but also handle myself on the flat and time trial. But I see myself mainly as a climber (and) GC rider.”
The second British rider to secure a trial with Team Sky, Ethan Hayter is an 18-year-old second-year U23 rider.
He was crowned world champion on the track as part of the British team pursuit squad in Apeldoorn this year.
He would also take silver and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games on the track.
Furthermore, Ethan Hayter also finished fifth overall on the road at the Ronde de l’Oise in France last month.
Potential over the pavé
He won the junior Belgian one-day Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne two years ago; showing classics potential.
He was also 2nd that year in the Trofeo Karlsberg stage race in German; an event won by Ireland’s Eddie Dunbar in 2014.
From London, Hayter will take up his place at Team Sky after the European Track Championships this weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to riding with the team, gaining in experience and learning as much as I can along the way,” Ethan Hayter said.
“I really didn’t expect to have this opportunity at the start of the year. Sky has always been the team everyone watches and aspires to be a part of.
“I see myself as a bit of an all-rounder on the road. I can climb and sprint pretty well, and I can time trial fairly well too.”
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