Dylan O'Brien is departing the youth and junior rider-focused Kanturk in favour of a new squad with an impeccable record in the senior peloton. Pictured above by Sean Rowe at the World Championships this year.
By Brian Canty
One of the top juniors in the country this year, Dylan O’Brien is hoping a move from his O’Leary Stone Kanturk team to the Aquablue squad can bring him to the next level.
The 18-year-old won a stage of the Junior Tour this year and also gained selection for the junior road race at the World Championships in Spain in September.
Now set for his first year as an U23 rider in 2015, he will take his first strides into senior racing under the watchful eye of Tim Barry.
And while he has benefitted hugely from being a member of the Kanturk club, where riders are developed by coach Dan Curtin, it is a team very much focussed on youth and junior riders.
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Winning the final stage of the Junior Tour into Ennis this year, beating what was the best breakaway of the race (Photo: Stephan McMahon - Sportsfile)
The move to Aquablue will mean O’Brien is part of a well organised and well supported elite team as he attempts to turn junior success into a strong senior career.
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Having been a team mate of Eddie Dunbar’s in Kanturk since starting out racing, Cobh native O’Brien often found himself filling a support role for his colleague.
This was despite being one of the best juniors in the country and because Dunbar was simply so dominant.
However, Dunbar has departed Kanturk for the NFTO UK-based Continental for next year and being without his stable mate will in itself be a big change for O’Brien.
Time trialing his way to overall victory at the Tour of Connacht in March. He combined his presence in the stage 1 escape with a fantastic ride in the stage 3 TT to win the race overall from his Munster Sensa team mate Eddie Dunbar (Photo: James Wright Photography)
Having represented Ireland during both of his junior years and won time trials and road races, O’Brien is one of a small group of athletes coming out of the junior ranks hoping to break into the U23 fold as quickly as possible.
It is a process Aquablue has a record in, with Dylan Foley having made a seamless transition from junior to U23 international riding for the Cork-based team.
And while the line-up for next year is not finalised, O’Brien will have a wealth of experience around him to learn from with some of those on the squad this year including Bryan McCrystal, Damien Shaw, Sean Lacey and Joe Fenlon.
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