Two of the five Irish riders who were due to race with the new Dynamo Cover team in 2016, but were
left stranded when it collapsed, have found replacement squads in France.
Former Irish under-23 champion Philip Lavery will compete with the Team U Nantes Atlantique setup, and will continue his push towards a pro contract there.
He previously raced with teams such as An Post Chainreaction and went close to a pro deal with the FDJ squad, but temporarily retired from the sport in frustration.
He decided to give things another shot but had a blow when the Dynamo Cover squad project stopped earlier this month.
“My goals are simple: give the best for the team, and be there for my teammates,” he said. “I think about wins, of course – if you join a team without that desire, it is not worth it to start races.
“I have learned from my mistakes of past seasons. I know where I’m going now, for me, for my family and for them. Generally, I am a rider who finds his optimum potential in April. We will see this season, but I cannot wait to start.”
Also secure with a team for 2016 is Mark Downey, a former national junior time-trial champion. He and his brother Sean, together with Lavery, Mark Dowling and Ryan Reilly, were the Irish riders left high and dry by Dynamo Cover.
Downey will race with the French VC Toucy squad and is regaining morale as a result.
“I was really hit by the news of the team stopping, but Yann [Dejan, team manager] never abandoned us,” he said. “The team has a very good calendar and some very nice races.”
Legal case
Dejan was also left without a job when the team stopped. The owner and chief sponsor have blamed a legal case against the company that had been negotiating its sponsorship contracts.
Dejan has spoken frankly about the situation, saying that he feels abandoned by those behind the team and believes they have not behaved with integrity. He said that he will do everything he can to help the riders and staff to find alternatives.
"It is not a good time, middle of December, and it will be difficult to find. But I have friends in many places and they will try to do what they can," he told the Irish Times. "My priority is to find a solution for all the people. This project was a fantastic one and I am very disappointed."
He added that he hopes to be able to set up an alternative project for the 2017 season. If that happens, he will prioritise those who have been affected by the Dynamo Cover fiasco.
