Giant is already heavily involved in backing pro teams and riders and with Giant's Dublin bike store having developed an off road team in the past 12 months in Ireland, they are now setting up an Irish U23 development team with coach Jonathan Gibson.
Just 12 months after the Standard Life-backed Nicolas Roche Performance Team launched its quest to recruit a strong squad of junior riders, Giant has entered into the Irish scene in a similar way.
The global brand’s Dublin bike store is financially backing a new U23 team with the project being managed by well known Irish coach Jonathan Gibson via his www.seeng.ie coaching business.
The plan is a very ambitious one, with the aim of developing into an U23 UCI-ranked Continental team in the next four years.
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“We’re very excited by it,” said Gibson of the new project.
“Anyone who has been watching the home scene in Ireland knows there is plenty of talent there, with loads of riders coming through from the youth scene into very strong junior and U23 grades.”
“So the plan for us is to try and identify some of that talent, organize it into a team set-up, have them racing at home and abroad and develop that as much as we can. I really feel the talent is there and if we can give people a chance that maybe hasn’t traditionally been available on the Irish scene until now, then more riders will break through.”
Another very well known figure on the off road scene, Richie Byrne is already managing an off road development team backed by Giant's Dublin store – the Enduro/XC Development Squad. Byrne runs Giant’s Dublin store - www.giant-dublin.ie - which is now also backing Gibson's U23 road team.
The SEEng.ie U23 Development Squad has pulled off a great coup in securing the Giant store as its equipment sponsor and supplier for a three-year period, allowing the project vital time to find its feet in its first season or two.
Gibson said the backing from Giant's store in Dublin is essential in that it will allow the riders the opportunity to compete on a level playing field in terms of practical support when it races against larger and more established squads abroad and in bigger home races that attract foreign riders.
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The Team SEEng.ie U23 Development Squad will be focused on Irish riders. It will see www.seeng.ie provide the riders with all of their athlete services; from coaching to athlete testing and orthopaedic massage for injury management, among a range of services.
The team will have a full racing calendar for 2014 competing in Ireland, England and mainland Europe.
SEEng.ie will also manage and direct the team over 2014 and like Giant's Dublin store is committed to the project for the next three years. The final goal of the project is to have a fully competitive Irish U23 Continental level development team in year four and beyond.
The team is currently in negotiations with riders for 2014 and wants to talk to U23 riders who are committed to training and racing in a full-time environment
If you or somebody you know is interested in being part of the team you can contact the project director, Jonathan Gibson at [email protected] or 087 2453114 for more information.
While Giant's Dublin shop has already been brought on board, the team is looking for further sponsors, partners and/or investors. Any interested parties can contact Gibson.
Sounds like a great idea, the best of luck to all involved.
