IRISH CYCLING TRIO Sam Bennett, Ronan McLaughlin and Sean Downey have agreed new deals which will see them stay with the An Post Sean Kelly team for 2013.
The move further strengthens manager Kurt Bogaerts’ squad for the coming season following the capture of Omnium World Champion Glenn O’Shea and Jack Wilson last week.
Carrick-on-Suir sprinter Bennett was one of the team’s top performers this year and shone at the Tour of Britain where he bagged top ten finishes on three stages.
The 21-year-old, who recently returned to training following knee surgery, also impressed in the Irish jersey at the world championships where he finished a brilliant 10th in the men’s U23 road race.
McLaughlin was also rewarded for his form with a place alongside Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin on the senior Irish team at the worlds in the Netherlands.
This new deal will take the Donegal native into a sixth season with An Post since he first joined in 2008.
Downey, 21, spent the season cutting his teeth on the Belgian racing circuit and Bogaerts today praised the Dromore youngster’s handling of the testing switch.
“It always takes a year or so to settle in and make the transition but I think he has done that really well and with a good winter’s training behind him he can certainly start picking up some results.”
The team begin a week’s training camp in Calpe from 1 December.
