Despite previous indications that Irish professional Ciaran Power was to remain with his St Quentin squad for next season, the Waterford cyclist has signed a contract with the Navigators team, based in the US.
Power had been due to sign with the French team last weekend. However at the last minute he was told by management that pressure from the team's sponsors to sign more home riders meant that his place was no longer guaranteed. As Navigators had expressed an interest in taking him on, Power and his agent Frank Quinn decided to take the American option.
"St Quentin were dragging their heels", says Quinn. "At the same time the Navigators deal looked quite good so we decided to go with that one."
The New Jersey squad is, like St Quentin, a second division pro side. Based in New Jersey, the cosmopolitan 13-rider line-up includes the US criterium champion Kirk O'Bee, the Canadian road race title holder Mark Walters and Oleg Grichkine, who holds two Russian track titles.
Their racing programme is based mainly around American events, but the team also intend to compete in several European competitions during 2002.
"I am looking forward to the new challenge", says Power, "I have been training quite hard lately and am determined to be in good shape by the time the season begins in March."
The 25-year-old will remain in Ireland until mid February, when he and his wife, Lisa, will move to New York. The first team get-together will be at their training camp in Arizona one week later.
Coincidentally, another Irish rider has also just been confirmed as signing for an American pro side. John Brady, who has raced in the US for many years and was a former member of the renownded 7 Eleven squad, will race in the colours of the new third division Ofoto/Lombardi Sports team next season.
He will be part of a 15 man line-up which also includes two Americans known to followers of the FBD Milk Rβs; Colby Pearce was third in the 1999 edition while Erik Saunders competed with the Ficonseils team last year.
