They have gained a last minute invite in unfortunate circumstances for Aqua Blue Sport, but Team Wiggins will look to impress. Tom Pidcock (left) and Ireland's Matt Teggart (right) are named in the Tour of Britain team. And Mark Downey joins them.
The news of Aqua Blue Sport’s demise has been greeted with shock and sadness, but it has had an unexpected upside for Team Wiggins.
The British Continental team has been drafted into the Tour of Britain just five days before the start. It takes the place of Aqua Blue Sport, which has withdrawn from the event.
And the race organisers have said Ireland’s Matt Teggart and Mark Downey are among the Team Wiggins line-up set to ride the British event.
The race begins in Carmarthenshire this Sunday; rolling out from Pembrey Country Park.
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The junior world TT champion and former world and European junior cyclocross champion Tom Pidcock (19) leads the team. He will be joined by Gabriel Cullaigh (22).
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On the way to 11th place in the opening TT at the Baby Giro. And now Mark Downey gets his chance in the Tour of Britain.
“Irish pairing Matthew Teggart and Mark Downey, both 22, will arrive at the race having competed in the prestigious Tour de l’Avenir for Ireland last week,” a statement from the Tour of Britain said.
“Completing the line-up will be 20-year-olds Joey Walker, son of former Milk Race winner Chris, and New Zealander James Fouché, both of whom will be making their debuts in the race.”
The team had been controversially left out of the race when the invites were issued earlier in the year.
But Pidcock made no reference to that today; understandably saying the team was delighted to be included.
He added the squad had a relationship with the race as its principal Bradley Wiggins was a former winner.
And Pidcock pointed out Owain Douall had won the points classification in 2015 when a Team Wiggins rider.
"I am really looking forward to mixing it up against some of the big UCI WorldTour teams again,” he said.
“Riding in front of British fans is always a great experience and hopefully our team can give them plenty to cheer about over the course of the race."
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