Banteer's Paidi O'Brien re-signs to Sean Kerry Cycling team
Thursday February 18 2010
BANTEER cyclist Páidi O'Brien has re-signed to the An Post sponsored Seán Kelly Cycling team for the 2010 season.
O'Brien was included in an eighteen-man team announced, including ten new high-profile signings.
The 2010 An Post Sean Kelly Team includes six Irish cyclists, with 2009 riders Mark Cassidy, David O'Loughlin, Matt Brammeier and Ronan McLaughlin all re-signed along with O'Brien.
One notable new addition is Belfast man Connor McConvey, who has made the switch from international mountain biking to international road racing.
"I'm really looking forward to pushing on this year with the An Post team," O'Brien said. "The training camp in Calpe went particularly well and I get the feeling that this is the best shape the team has ever been in. Last week's result just showed how competitive we can be and our aim is to keep that up for the season."
O'Brien's was referring to the team's blistering start to the season which included a stage win for Belgian teammate Niko Eeckhout, who has been re-signed for 2010, and a third place overall finish for fellow Belgian and new signing Pieter Ghyllebert at the Tour Etoile de Bessèges in South France.
The team completed a two week training camp in Calpe in Southern Spain last month, and their 2010 campaign commenced at the end of January with a positive showing at GP Marseillaise in France, followed by the excellent results at the Tour Etoile de Bessèges last week.
The team was back in action yesterday at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal. The An Post squad will return to Ireland for the nation's top races, the Rás, Tour of Ireland and national championships.
