Ronan McLaughlin and Mark Cassidy are part of a six man An Post Sean Kelly team who will ride 1,250 kilometres over nine stages in eight days when then take part in the Tour of Britain which starts this weekend.
The Irish duo are joined by British pair Andy Fenn, who it has just been announced will be joining Pharma–Quick Step next season, and recent winner of the Mi Aout en Bretagne, Mark McNally.
Rás winner Gediminas Bagdonas and Belgian Pieter Ghyllebert complete the team for the event, which begins in Pebbles in the Scottish Borders this Sunday, 11 September.
A confident team manager, Kurt Bogearts, is targeting a stage win in the prestigious event that features a 10 kilometre individual time trial around central London on the final day (Sunday, 18 September).
Bogearts said: “The Tour of Britain will be a very tough and highly competitive race again this year. There are a lot of big teams and quality riders taking part. We will be one of the youngest teams in the race, but this season we have proved we can compete and win races against top opposition.
“Our aim is to win a stage and I have an idea of a couple of stages that will suit us.”
Bogaerts added that he had ruled Sam Bennett and Philip Lavery out of the running to be in the squad, as he felt that they both needed a rest with one eye on the World Championships, which take place in Denmark later this month.
“Bennett and Lavery have been riding well recently, but they’ve looked a little tired in the last couple of races. I thought if they rode the Tour of Britain it would not help their chances at the World Championships, which has been a target for them all season. It’s better that they get some rest in now,” Bogearts added.
An Post team for Tour of Britain Team
Mark Cassidy (IRL)
Ronan McLaughlin (IRL)
Mark McNally (UK)
Andy Fenn (UK)
Gediminas Bagdonas (LTU)
Pieter Ghyllebert (BEL)
