A number of Irish cycling's hit-men have joined the new squad. It has horsepower throughout; comprised as it is of seasoned international riders and prolific winners including Matteo Cigala, above (Photo John Hammer)
Viner-Caremark–Pactimo Cycling Team launched
The Irish peloton will have a new team to be reckoned with when racing finally gets underway in 2018.
Last year’s Planet X Carnac and Aqua Blue Academy teams have amalgamated into a new outfit with several sponsors.
They include Viner Bikes, distributed by for pro rider Morgan Fox’s Planet X company in Athlone.
Also on board as a sponsor this year is Caremark; a homecare and support services company.
Another new backer is Pactimo sportswear. It has made a significant impression on the Irish cycling and triathlon market in recent years through former An Post-Chainreaction rider Ronan McLaughlin.
Advertisement
Indeed the Donegal man is among the rider roster of the new team, which will be known as Viner-Caremark–Pactimo Cycling Team.
The Born cycling brand, run in Ireland by former Rás stage winner Michael Smyth, is another sponsor.
Long-time cycling supporter Dan Morrissey, the construction materials company, is also on board this year.
Morgan Fox is the general manager of the squad. And he will be aided and abetted by Frankie Campbell and Timmy Barry; making an impressively experienced management team.
And the line-up for the peloton is also a very strong one. Many of the riders pose a considerable threat on their own. But gathered into one team they will prove a handful and are capable of winning the biggest races in the country.
The riders assembled for a recent photoshoot and training weekend.
Alongside the aforementioned McLaughlin are Sean Lacey and Matteo Cigala; best in the National Road Series and Cycling Ireland A1 rankings respectively last year.
Also in the line-up is Anto Walsh, winner of a Rás Mumhan stage two years ago.
Another team rider for 2018 is Sean Hahessey; an international who won the Lacey Cup last year and has ridden Nations Cup and the European Championships for Ireland.
Worlds masters TT champion and Irish elite hour record holder Greg Swinand is also in the line-up.
He is the current Irish Masters road race and TT champion. And he has won a large number of road and track Irish titles down the years.
Another veteran in the line-up is John Horgan; a very useful rider still able to mix it.
Keith Fox, who has ridden for Shannonside and Planet X in the past, is also in the team.
He took a tidy win the Tommy Brady Memorial a few years ago. And he would have won it again in 2016 but for celebrating a little too early.
Related News
On his day he can pop up and add more victories to his palmares this season.
Returning from racing abroad, Conor Hennebry is also part of the new team. He rode for An Post-Chainreaction last year and has taken victories in Ireland and Belgium as an amateur.
Now aged 24 years, he has won the Tour of Ulster and tough one-day races such as the John Beggs Memorial and Laragh Classic.
The team will all ride Viner's Maxima or Settanta bikes, with SRAM Force groupsets and Selcof carbon wheels.
Team general manager Morgan Fox with development rider Keelan Fox; the 2-year-old has been promised a stagiaire from August 1st.
Another very strong rider appearing in the Viner-Caremark–Pactimo colours this year is Dylan Foley (24).
He has had some injury problems but is without doubt one of the strongest riders in the country on his day.
Foley also has plenty of experience in the green of Ireland. And he can win big races in the season ahead.
Another rider in the set-up, and an athlete who has enjoyed some very strong performances in the last couple of seasons, is Craig Rea.
The 23-year-old has won races like the Spires GP and was 4th in the Des Hanlon last year. He will look to turn his consistency into some big race wins this year.
And with the experience around him, both among his team mates and in the team’s management, he looks like he is in the right place to progress.
Speaking of development; the new team has also signed three very promising young riders. They are teenagers Luke Smith, Aaron Kearney and Ronan Tuomey.
And on the basis of what we have seen from all three so far in their fledgling careers, they have the ability to make serious noise in the next few seasons.
Smith (19) was one of the top juniors in the country over the past two years. He gained national selection for the Europeans and Worlds in both 2016 and 2017.
Last year he was 3rd in the junior TT championships and took silver in the road race, behind champion Ethan Downey.
Smith won three senior races last year as a junior. In August he won the Oldcastle GP having won in Mountnugent less than 24 hours earlier.
Aaron Kearney (19) has won the Deenside GP and Barrow Wheelers GP. He also has a runner-up slot in the Shay Elliott A3-Junior race and 5th in the junior road race championships under his belt.
As a result, the former Carrick Wheelers man will feel he can progress in A1 racing over the coming season. The youngest man in the team is Ronan Tuomey; the 18-year-old also one to watch.
He’s taken some great wins already in his career. And he will look to step up into the elite ranks this year with a strong season.
Ronan Tuomey claimed the Kanturk Three Day final yellow jersey both last year and in 2016. He also took a great stage win in the Junior Tour last year and won the Raparee GP.
He has ridden Nations Cup races and the World Road Championships for Ireland as a junior.
The team’s three young guns – Kearney, Tuomey and Smith – can this year stake a claim to a place in the U23 national team.
Overall, the line-up has great strength in depth with a very useful mix of youth and experience and no shortage of firepower.
Topics
