An Post to continue as Chainreaction team title sponsor

Although several Irish riders left the team this season, fears that the Irish involvement in the An Post Chainreaction team could be coming to an end have proved to be unfounded.

The Irish Times understands An Post, which has been the title sponsor of the team for several seasons, will continue its backing next season. New signings are expected from this country, thus continuing the squad's goal of helping to nurture talent.

The Continental squad has helped Sam Bennett and Ryan Mullen to top level contracts, with Bennett securing a multi-year deal with the Bora-Argon 18 squad at the end of 2013 and Mullen being given a two-year contract with the Cannondale-Garmin team, starting 2016.

The team has also had success in its own right, with those results including stage wins and the overall classification in the An Post Rás, a Tour of Britain stage win with Bennett plus second in the world under-23 time trial championships with Mullen, albeit in the colours of the national team.

At the start of this season the Belgium-based squad included five riders. These were Mullen, Seán Downey, Jack Wilson, Eoin McCarthy and Conor Dunne. Of those, Downey and McCarthy have decided to give up international competition. Mullen is heading to Cannondale-Garmin and Dunne is moving to the British JLT Condor team.

Additions

Wilson is the only one of those who is staying put. According to the Sticky Bottle website, he will be joined by another five Irish riders next season. Their identities have not yet been announced.

Two of Ireland's big young talents, Eddie Dunbar and Michael O'Loughlin, won't be amongst the quintet. Dunbar is heading to the US-based Axeon team, while O'Loughlin has also picked up an international deal. In other news, Mark Dowling is due to ride the Taiwan King of the Mountain challenge on Friday. He is the son of Olympic boxer Mick Dowling.