ELEVEN MEMBERS OF the An Post Sean Kelly team, including Irishmen Ronan McLaughlin, Sean Downey, Sam Bennett and Conor McConvey, will take part in their respective National Championships over the coming days.
McLaughlin and Downey will be the first riders in action as they line up in the National Time Trial Championship, which starts in Cahir this evening. The pair will then be joined by their Rás teammates, Bennett and McConvey for the Road race, which starts from Clonmel at midday on Sunday.
Bennett, who took the Under 23 Road award home last year, is aiming to go one better by claiming the senior title this weekend, but he is under no illusions as to how tough the task will be.
“It hasn’t been long since the Rás and after two podium finishes there it would be great to win the senior event in Clonmel this weekend. All the big names like Martin, Roche and Brammeier will be back so it’s going to be difficult but I’m confident in my ability and anything can happen on the day.”
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Elsewhere final stage Rás winner, Gediminas Bagdonas, will be looking to defend his Time Trial win at last year’s National Championships in Lithuania. He also finished 2nd in the road race in 2011.
Belgians Niko Eeckhout and Pieter Ghyllebert take part in their home country’s road race on Sunday, while the An Post British quartet of Mark McNally, Mark Christian, Jonathan Bellis and Johnny Mould all take part in the UK road race on the same date.
National Championships beckon for An Post riders
ELEVEN MEMBERS OF the An Post Sean Kelly team, including Irishmen Ronan McLaughlin, Sean Downey, Sam Bennett and Conor McConvey, will take part in their respective National Championships over the coming days.
McLaughlin and Downey will be the first riders in action as they line up in the National Time Trial Championship, which starts in Cahir this evening. The pair will then be joined by their Rás teammates, Bennett and McConvey for the Road race, which starts from Clonmel at midday on Sunday.
Bennett, who took the Under 23 Road award home last year, is aiming to go one better by claiming the senior title this weekend, but he is under no illusions as to how tough the task will be.
“It hasn’t been long since the Rás and after two podium finishes there it would be great to win the senior event in Clonmel this weekend. All the big names like Martin, Roche and Brammeier will be back so it’s going to be difficult but I’m confident in my ability and anything can happen on the day.”
Elsewhere final stage Rás winner, Gediminas Bagdonas, will be looking to defend his Time Trial win at last year’s National Championships in Lithuania. He also finished 2nd in the road race in 2011.
Belgians Niko Eeckhout and Pieter Ghyllebert take part in their home country’s road race on Sunday, while the An Post British quartet of Mark McNally, Mark Christian, Jonathan Bellis and Johnny Mould all take part in the UK road race on the same date.
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An Post Conor McConvey Cycling Ready to go Ronan McLaughlin Sam Bennett Sean Downey