The An Post Sean Kelly team today announced that Phillip Lavery and Stephen Halpin are to join the team until the end of the season as part of a trail period with the Belgium based side. The young Dubliners hold impressive CV’s and are seen as two of the countries top young cyclists.
As a youth cyclist Lavery was a triple all Ireland track champion and a member of the Olympic development team. This year has seen him victorious both home and abroad, finishing top of the overall classifications in the Tour of the North, Jimmy Lally Memorial and Traders Cup as well as the Wervik, Ramsdonk (Elite U23) and Lanskouter (Elite U23) in Europe. He was also a stage winner in the Tour of Ulster in May, taking the U23 classification, and he recently had a notable Rás, holding onto the County jersey for a number of days.
Twenty two year old Swords native Stephen Halpin has also represented Ireland at youth level, competing for the national side in the Cote de Picard, Giro della Reigioni and ZLM Tour World Cups. Previously this year he has been based in Belgium, riding for the SDC Rogelli Cycling Team whereby he has five top ten finishes to his name. Unfortunately Halpin had to pull out of this year’s Rás during the fourth stage after suffering from a viral infection.
There will be no rest for Halpin as he heads straight into the action for the An Post team at this weekend’s Suir Valley 3 day race in Clonmel. Joining Halpin at Saturday’s start will be new teammates Mark Cassidy, Connor McConvey, Ronan McLaughlin and Mark McNally.
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts was understandably delighted at signing Lavery and Halpin until the end of the season.
“It’s great that the two guys have joined us until October. We have been monitoring their progress closely for quite a while now and they both have serious potential. The trail period gives us the chance to look at them even closer and then we can sit down and talk at the end of the season.”
“Starting this weekend Stephen (Halpin) has a good chance to show us what he can do. I have picked a strong team and the guys are all looking forward to racing in Ireland again after the success we had during the Rás.”
It was a busy week in cycling for An Post, as last weekend’s Cycle Series event saw 1,300 cyclists take to the roads of Meath in what was a very successful day out. Next up for the Series is the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford which was launched on Monday. Organisers of the Tour have reminded all cyclists that are hoping to take part to make sure they pre register before Friday 20th August as there will be no registration on the day of the event.
Team for the Suir Valley 3 day, Clomel, Tipperary (Sat 31st July – Mon 2nd August)
- Mark Cassidy (IRL)
- Connor McConvey (IRL)
- Ronan McLaughlin (IRL)
- Stephen Halpin (IRL)
- Mark McNally (UK)
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Philip Lavery, who has joined the An Post Sean Kelly team on trial until the end of the road racing season, in action at the European Road Championships in Turkey earlier this month. Picture credit: Stephen McMahon / Sportsfile
Caption Picture RP0052068:
Teammates: Pictured in blue within a sea of green is Stephen Halpin, who has joined the An Post Sean Kelly team on trial until the end of the road racing season. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile
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Sean Kelly launches the 2010 Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford, part of the An Post Cycle Series in the company of the iconic Metal Man overlooking Tramore Bay. The Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford - Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th August 2010 for online entry & full details visit www.theseankellytour.com