Aqua Blue Sport gets underway at the Vuelta just 7½ months into its existence. The team is delighted to be here. But having punched well above its weight this year, it wants more than just praise for reaching the start line (All photos by Karen M Edwards)
Irish cycling team Aqua Blue Sport at Vuelta
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Irish cycling team Aqua Blue Sport has begun blazing a trail at the Vuelta as the first Irish team to ever ride a Grand Tour.
The ProContinental outfit is owned by Irish people and counts three Irish riders and plenty of Irish staff in its ranks on this race.
And yesterday in Nimes when the team's nine riders rolled down the TTT start ramp a new chapter in Irish sporting history was begun.
Conor Dunne is the only Irish rider in the team for the Vuelta, but there are three Irish riders in the squad.
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And that number is set to grow; top Irish U23 rider Eddie Dunbar having been added for next year.
In the nine-rider Vuelta line-up with Conor Dunne are Adam Blythe, Larry Warbasse, Mark Christian and Lasse Norman Hansen.
Also riding the race for the team are Michel Kreder, Aaron Gate, Stefan Denifl and Peter Koning.
They rode a very respectable 13.7km opening stage yesterday, placing 13th of the 22 teams.
And without fear of exaggeration they have the ability to not just animate many stages, but also to win one.
Dunne has been a menace on the attack all season. His relentless progress through the lower ranks of pro cycling to this point will hopefully prove inspiration for many young Irish cyclists.
Adam Blythe is a very fast sprinter and if he were to get in a clear run at the line in the right circumstances he can bring it home.
Warbasse has already won a stage of the Tour de Suisse and the US road title in the colours of Aqua Blue Sport this year. Anyway who can do that can win a stage of the Vuelta.
Mark Christian and Peter Konig are new to Grand Tours but have the legs to get up the road.
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And in former Olympic omnium champion Lasse Norman Hansen the team has a very strong and versatile road man with class and grunt in spades.
Michel Kreder has just finished 3rd overall at the Arctic Race of Norway. Aaron Gate has the legs to do something special from the right scenario.
His legs have taken him to an omnium world title and an Olympic bronze medal in the team pursuit.
Stefan Denifl recently won the Tour of Austria after some epic riding. A stage win here would be a seamless progression.
The team may have already made history by securing an invite to the Vuelta, but it is ambitious and will want more.
Warbasse, Denifl and Kreder in particular have scored some very big result of late. And that creates a pressure for more of the same.
And Dunne getting into the escapes, and possibly surviving to fight for a stage win, seems more than likely.
Aqua Blue Sport was just 38 seconds off stage winners BMC Racing yesterday.
Conor Dunne, the hardest working and most determined of Irish riders, said he was delighted to be in a Grand Tour.
He explained in recent days how it only seemed like yesterday he was cycling down to the local shops with his father to buy Pokémon cards.
“I'm proud to be here with an Irish team; it was a great day and I really enjoyed it,” he said of yesterday's stage.
“We rode really well as a unit. And we are all very happy with the way the team performed.
“It was a really nice stage and there was plenty of Irish fans out on the road. We'll now focus on the upcoming days and try to go for a sprint for Adam on stage two.”
He added the team was very grateful for all the support from Irish fans.
“I am going to take it one day at a time. It is great to be part of this race.”
Team owner Rick Delaney, along with his staff, has pulled off a coup in securing an invite to the race.
The moment wasn’t wasted on him yesterday when the team rolled down the start ramp.
“This is a great day for all who are involved in this project,” he said. “It was a dream to get to a Grand Tour and that dream was realised today.
“The team rode super strong – and performed solidly. We hope that we can go on now to try for a stage win.”
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