New ‘Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank’ rider, Nicolas Roche’s Irish-based junior team is building momentum
The new ‘Nicolas Roche Performance Team’ for Irish junior riders has reported very significant interest from those looking for a place with the squad next year. Since last week when the plan was unveiled on stickybottle and expressions of interest sought, some 35 riders have applied.
Team manager Philip Finegan added that virtually all of Ireland’s top juniors are hoping to be part of the team.
“We’ve had what we feel is a really tremendous response and we’re delighted with the interest so far,” he said.
“We’re really gaining momentum since news of the team came out last week and we’re looking to capitalise on that, both in terms of picking the right six juniors to have on the team and also to line up the best sponsors.”
Advertisement
Finegan said that both he and Roche believed the squad could be run very professionally next year on a budget of €25,000 to €30,000.
“We’re in talks with six interested parties now. People might think it would be really expensive to get involved. But we’re looking at a low five-figure title sponsor and then some secondary sponsors. Obviously that would cost less; we’d estimated around €2,500 per year for those secondary sponsors.”
Finegan added his and Roche’s talks with a bike company to supply bikes to the team next year were progressing well, with the squad also seeking other kit and clothing partners.
“There are a lot of people on the Irish scene who have fairly large financial interests in cycling and we’re hoping some of them will come on board,” he said.
Related News
“And then you also have those who either race or cycle for leisure and have companies that are not cycling based. But they’d still see themselves getting involved as a sponsor because of the publicity that a team with Nicolas Roche’s name attached to it will generate. We’re also going to run this very professionally so hopefully potential sponsors will be attracted by that fact.”
Finegan urged any juniors still considering applying to contact him on [email protected] Potential sponsors can also reach him at that address.
“The closing date for rider applications is this coming Saturday the 10h of November,” he said.
“We’ll contact riders the following Thursday (November 14th) and we’re hoping to have the rider roster finalised by November 25th.”
The new team will be managed by Finegan, with new Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank rider Roche as team principal and mentor.
It will focus on the domestic calendar, but will also ride a series of stage races abroad; with five dates in France and Germany already pencilled in for next year.
Finegan said he was confident that Roche’s profile and contacts would secure a steady flow of invitations for the team from race organisers abroad. That factor, he believed, would help the riders develop quickly into well-drilled squad where team work is key.
The team is looking to develop riders to help them turn professional when they go into the U23 and elite ranks.
Topics
