Teggart Gearing Up for French Test

Matthew Teggart is the sole Irish man to be named as part of a strong An Post Chain Reaction Sean Kelly team for their maiden race of 2017, at the d’Ouverture La Marseillaise (1.1) this Sunday (29^th January).

The Belgium based outfit, who have 12 new additions to their squad, have named Jonas Bolkeloh (GER), Davy Gunst (NED), Massimo Vanderaerden (BEL), Premislav Kasperkiewicz (POL), Sean MacKinnon (CAN) and British duo Jacob Scott and Dan Gardner to line out alongside Teggart for the 152 kilometre race.

The squad are fresh from a successful and intensive training camp in Calpe, Spain and team manager Kurt Bogaerts is confident with their preparations for a big season ahead.

“I think there is a great opportunity here to have a strong start to the season. I have picked a young team which I believe are well suited to the course. We have some good climbers in the team and great speed so I have high expectations to have a few riders in the leading group towards the latter stages of the race.”

The 38^th edition of the famous race takes place on hilly terrain around Marseille. It has traditionally been a good hunting ground for strong sprinters and classics riders and those riders will again be expected to shine when the race opens the prestigious Coupe de France series on Sunday with valuable points on offer for the team to make a strong start to the season.

20-year-old Ulster man, Teggart will be hoping to showcase his talents at the weekend and start the year on a positive note. An Post team manager Bogaerts has high expectations for the young Irish man going into the season opener.

“Matthew should be well suited to the course. He performed to a very high level all training camp and I fully expect him to be challenging at the business end of the race this Sunday.”

An Post Chain Reaction will be up against some stiff competition in the form of the world tour teams such as: AG2R La Mondiale, FDJ and Lotto-Soudal. The An Post Chain Reaction team will be facing some familiar and formidable riders this coming weekend. Ex An Post riders Nicolas Vereecken, now riding for Roubaix Lille Metropole and 2014 champion Samuel Dumoulin now riding for AG2R La Mondiale will surely be ones to look out for.

The An Post Chain Reaction team race next at the five-day road race Etoile de Bessèges (2.1), taking place between the 1^st and 5^th of February.

An Post Chain Reaction Sean Kelly Racing Team in action at GP d’Ouverture La Marseillaise (1.1) in France, Sunday 29^th January.

Matthew Teggart (IRE)

Jonas Bolkeloh (GER)

Davy Gunst (NED)

Jacob Scott (GBR)

Dan Gardner (GBR)

Premislav Kasperkiewicz (POL)

Sean MacKinnon (CAN)

Massimo Vanderaerden (BEL)