Kelly has high hopes for 2012

CYCLING: THIS WEEK'S announcement of four more names for the An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Seán Kelly team adds further strength to the squad, which heads towards 2012 with its best ever prospects.

Former world number one Seán Kelly, who is involved with running the team and who plays a guiding role with the riders, believes a very good year could lie ahead.

“You could say this is the best line-up yet,” he said yesterday, following the announcement of four signings.

These were contract renewals for former Belgian champion Niko Eeckhout, the 2011 An Post Rás winner Gediminas Bagdonas, Irish rider Mark Cassidy and Eeckhout’s strong compatriot Peter Ghyllebert.

“There are many strong riders on the team, and guys like Bagdonas, had a very good season in 2011. He had some great results, and should have an even better year.”

The Lithuanian rider was supposed to move to the Geox-TMC team, but that fell through after the title sponsor left abruptly. That left Bagdonas in a similar position to Mark McNally, the Liverpool rider, who also had a strong 2011 with the An Post Team, but who missed out on a move to the Europcar team when it didn’t secure a UCI ProTeam licence.

Both will be back, as will the Irish contingent of Cassidy, Ronan McLaughlin, Seán Downey, Connor McConvey and Sam Bennett. The latter is from Kelly’s hometown of Carrick-on-Suir and has caught the eye of the former top rider. “Bennett is a guy to watch ,” he said. “The beginning of 2011 was really difficult for him as he had lost time due to an accident two years ago and a knee problem last year, but by the end of the season he was really looking good. He can win big races this year.”

The team is still waiting to hear if it will get a wildcard entry to the Tour of Oman and Qatar. After their aggressive showing there last year, they were told that they would likely be invited back, but Kelly is uncertain.

“There’s a lot of teams trying to get a ride in the races,” he said. “The UCI has a regulation saying they have to take continental teams from there, so it’s going to make it difficult.”

Fixtures, Saturday:Hamper race, Killorglin, starts 10am; SuperDuper Disco CX, Ballurgan Estate, Dundalk. First races at 11am. Sunday: Dromara Trail Quest, Dromara. Starts 10.30; Talent Team 2020 training, starts from Kilmessan at 11am.