Some of Ireland's best Irish riders have secured places with the biggest pro teams for the year ahead and now two of them - Lara Gillespie and Megan Armitage - also have private sponsorship deals for the coming season.
Gillespie will be busy as part of the Irish track team trying to qualify for the Olympic Games, with the first qualification races coming soon at the European Championships in Switzerland. She will also ride for UAE Development Team on the road this year.
Meanwhile, Megan Armitage, who has made incredible progress on the road in just a couple of seasons, has signed for Arkéa Pro Cycling Team for 2023, having cut her teeth over the last few seasons with the IBCT Continental team.
Gillespie has now secured the support of Johnson & Perrott Fleet Partners for 2023, the vehicle hire company which has supported Rás na mBan, while Armitage again has the backing or Mason, Hayes & Curran, a Dublin-based corporate law firm.
Advertisement
"I’m really happy to announce that Mason, Hayes & Curran will continue to support my cycling endeavours through the 2023 season," said Armitage, adding she was "incredibly grateful" for the support.
Related News
"I’ve come to realise over the last couple of months that security in this sport is never guaranteed. The support of Mason Hayes & Curran has taken some of the financial pressure off my shoulders and with their help I cannot wait to tick off some goals I have for the upcoming season."
For Gillespie, the support of Johnson & Perrott Fleet means she will get the use of Cupra Formentor car for the year ahead. The company's managing director Jonathan O’Brien met Gillespie last year when she cut short her UCD graduation ceremony to do a photoshoot for the company's backing of Rás na mBan.
He joked on that occasion she could have a car for a month if she won a stage and when Gillespie claimed two victories, O'Brien upped his offer, meaning Gillespie will now have the car for the full year ahead. O'Brien said the "focus and commitment Lara has demonstrated in her career so far is an inspiration to all".
Gillespie said she was delighted with the sponsorship. "I wasn’t sure if Jonathan was serious when he made the ‘deal’ at the Rás na mBan photoshoot. But when he told me that not only was he going to give me a car but that he would extend the agreement for the whole year, I was understandably thrilled.
“This is a big year with the European Championships, the World Championships and the UCI World Cup Series beginning the process of qualification for the Olympic games next year. It’s great that I have this beautiful Cupra Formentor to help me on my way.”
