CYCLING:IRISH ROAD race champion Matt Brammeier is feeling motivated as he counts down to the start of his contract with the HTC-Highroad team, one of the top squads in the sport.
The 25-year-old An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Seán Kelly team rider was given a one-year deal on the back of a strong season. He won the National Road Race championship ahead of Nicolas Roche, then rode well in Belgium and the Tour of Britain.
He was also involved in a 200km breakaway at the World Road Race championships in Geelong, Australia, which further highlighted his strength.
“Things have gone well since the end of the season,” he said yesterday. “I took a month completely off the bike, the first time in years, getting a good rest. I think I needed that after the season.
“I’ve now started back training and will be increasing it over the next few weeks.
“I go to Spain next week, am there for 10 days, and then I go straight to California for the team launch and first get-together and training camp. We will get fitted up for bikes and kit and get some training in together.”
Brammeier is friends with the team’s top rider, Mark Cavendish, regarded as the fastest sprinter in cycling who has won 15 stages in the Tour de France in the past three years. He sees his likely role next season as helping the Manx rider by riding at the front of the peloton to control breakaways, then helping set him up for the sprint.
He is also scheduled to ride some big spring events in Belgium, including the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and the three days of De Panne. The Tour of Flanders is also a target providing he is going well.
After that, he hopes to get to ride a grand tour in his first season at the this level.
Another who is aiming to shine in 2011 is Garmin-Transitions rider Dan Martin. He had been due to fly to Ireland this week and to appear at a Garmin launch in the Cycle Superstore, but has now had to postpone his visit until December.
Martin suffered from allergies this year and had a nose operation on Wednesday to try to correct the symptoms, which hamper his racing at certain points of the season. He is hoping that the surgery will solve the issue.
Finally, the Cycling Ireland agm will take place tomorrow at the Hudson Bay Hotel in Athlone.
FIXTURES: Saturday: Cycling Ireland agm, Hudson Bay Hotel, Athlone (11am); Supercross Cup, round four, Tymon Park.
Sunday: Ulster Cyclocross, Belfast.
