Conor Murphy, who competed for Irish club Caldwell Cycles this year, has been an incredible talent for the last two seasons in the junior ranks. And now the Irish phenom is really on his way after signing a new contract with one of the best U23 development teams in the world.
Murphy (18), from Co Louth, will race in the colours of Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team, which is the feeder squad for the World Tour team of the same name; the deal just confirmed. The team was known as Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale this year, but ownership and sponsor changes have resulted in a new name.
Though Murphy has been especially impressive against the watch - definitely a world class talent in the TT - he is also an accomplished road race rider. He won the Irish road race and TT crowns this season and last year claimed victory in Eroica Juniores-Coppa Andrea Meneghelli; the junior Strade Bianche.
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The great news for Murphy - the youngest of several new signings now confirmed - is that he has secured a two-year deal with his new team and that gives him vital time to develop. The two-year contract means he will have time to take a beat next year, especially early in the season, and get used to the U23 peloton before results are expected.
But on the basis of his performances to date, he is capable of taking results quite quickly on the U23 European scene. He equalled Ryan Mullen's senior record for the 10 mile TT this season, 17:42, and last month claimed silver in the junior TT at the European Road Championships.
Murphy got his Leaving Cert - the bane of all junior cyclists - out of the way this year. And, though offered a sports scholarship at University College Dublin based on his racing and exam results, he will forego a place at college, at least for this year, in favour of his cycling.
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Having that single focus, over the coming winter and next year, should help him to really step up his training load, and his racing preparation, and develop that huge engine of his.
Though stickybottle recently reported Murphy's links with Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team for next year, the team has now cofirmed him as a new signing, for two years, along with three others.
In that announcement, the other three new signings confirmed for the team next year were France's Rémi Arsac (20) and Alexis Bouteloup (18), and Belgian Liam Van Bylen (20).
Like Murphy, Bouteloup - with 10 big junior wins this season - has been signed on a two-year contract. Arsac, 7th overall at Giro della Valle d'Aosta (2.2U) this year, and Van Bylen, the Belgian U23 road race champion, have both signed for one year.
Because Murphy's new team is the U23 feeder squad for the World Tour team of the same name - which counted Sam Bennett on its roster for the last two seasons - the Irish junior will be eligible to be called up to the World Tour team for some races over the next two years.
More to come.
