Roche picks eight who could be great

The new ‘Nicolas Roche Performance Cycling Team’ has announced its roster for the coming season with an eight-man line-up comprising some of the most talented underage riders in the country.

It had been intended to sign up six riders for the team but given the number of applicants and the strength of those who applied, team principal Nicolas Roche and manager Philip Finnegan have decided to go with a total of eight riders for next year.

The selected team is a very strong one, with a mix of first-year and second-year juniors who Finnegan and Roche believe can begin progressing towards maximising their potential as bike riders.

Confirmed for the squad are four first year juniors – Darragh Long from Dublin, Matthew Teggart and Mark Downey from Banbridge and Fintan Ryan from Wicklow.

They will be joined by four second year juniors — David McCarthy and Dylan Foley from Cork, National Junior Road Race Champion Liam Corcoran from Castlebar and Danny Bruton from Dublin.

The eight have been selected from almost 50 applicants.

As well as Roche and Finnegan at the helm, experienced senior rider Barry Sutton has also joined the management team at the development squad.

“We’ve had most of the best riders in the country apply for a place on the team so we’re delighted that the concept has gone down so well,” said Finnegan.

“We’ve a great mix of experience and abilities and we feel we’ve a group of riders who will work well as a unit and ride as a team, which is the main thing we want to teach them.

“We received 46 applications from junior riders and after consulting with a range of cycling people we chose eight riders and they agreed to come on board. They represent the four provinces and I’ve visited them and their parents over the last ten days outlining our plans for 2013.

“We’re overwhelmed with the support and really looking forward to the new season and getting the lads on the road.”

The squad will meet Roche next Wednesday week at the “Evening with Stephen and Nicolas Roche” being put on by Garda CC in Westmanstown, west Dublin.

The team will target races at home and abroad, with the first major goal coming in the shape of the Gorey Three Day over the Easter Weekend.

As the season goes on other key events will include the Corkman Three Day on the May Bank Holiday, the Junior Tour, the National Championships and the Suir Valley Three Day.