Aqua Blue’s grand breakthrough with Vuelta invite

An Irish-registered professional cycling team will compete in a Grand Tour this year for the first time ever after Aqua Blue Sport secured a wild card entry to the Vuelta a Espana.

They were one of four teams who received the good news yesterday, with Cofidis, Credits Solutions as well as Colombian squad Manzana Postobon and Caja-Rural from Spain also getting the vote of confidence from organisers ASO.

It’s massive news for the Irish team who count former world track champion Martyn Irvine amongst their 16-man squad while four-time national champion Matt Brammeier and Conor Dunne make up the Irish contingent.