An Post–Chain Reaction
An Post–Chain Reaction (UCI team code: SKT) is a UCI continental professional cycling team registered in the Republic of Ireland, based at the Sean Kelly Academy in Merchtem, Flanders. The team participates on the UCI Europe Tour. The squad is managed by Kurt Bogaerts and Sean Kelly with directeur sportif Andy Vanhoudt. The team disbanded at the end of the 2017 season, after they failed to find sponsorship. It hopes to compete in the 2019 season, if sponsorship is secured.[2]
| Team information | ||
|---|---|---|
| UCI code | SKT | |
| Registered | Merchtem, Flanders, Belgium | |
| Founded | 2006 | |
| Disbanded | 2017 | |
| Discipline(s) | Road | |
| Status | UCI Continental | |
| Bicycles | Vitus | |
| Website | Team home page | |
| Key personnel | ||
| General manager | Kurt Bogaerts | |
| Team manager(s) | Niko Eeckhout[1] | |
| Team name history | ||
2006 2007 2008–2009 2010–2012 2013–2017 | Sean Kelly ACLVB–M Donnelly Murphy & Gunn–Newlyn–M Donnelly–Sean Kelly An Post–M Donnelly–Grant Thornton–Sean Kelly An Post–Sean Kelly An Post–Chain Reaction | |
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History
The team began in 2006 with the name Sean Kelly ACLVB–M Donnelly as the first Irish professional cycling team. Shortly after its launch another Irish continental team was launched, Murphy & Gunn–Newlyn. For the 2007 season, these two teams merged to form the Murphy & Gunn–Newlyn–M Donnelly–Sean Kelly squad.[3][4] The team achieved several good results including second overall in the Rás Tailteann with Paídi O'Brien.[5] At the end of 2007, it was announced that An Post would replace Murphy & Gunn as main sponsor while Grant Thornton replacing the Newlyn group as a co-sponsor.[6] For the 2008 season, the team became more international with four Belgians, two Britons, one Swede and one German joining the six Irish riders.[7] The team took its biggest win when Stephen Gallagher won the general classification of the Rás Tailteann.[8] It has also taken overall victories in Vuelta a Extremadura (Daniel Lloyd), Tour des Pyrénées (Daniel Fleeman), and Ronde de l'Oise (Steven Van Vooren).
The team began as an Irish-registered team, becoming Belgian-registered between 2010 and 2013, primarily to gain access to races in Belgium. The team became Irish-registered again in 2014.[9]
After failing to find sponsorship for the 2018 season, the team was forced to disband. Despite this the team are still looking for sponsorship to compete in the 2018 season.
UCI Europe tour
The SKT team was UCI ranked 31st out of 125 teams at the end of the 2009 UCI Europe Tour season with 481 points. The team was ranked 46th out of 110 teams on the UCI Europe Tour rankings for 2010 with 314 points. It improved ranking to 21st out of 114 teams in 2011 with 648 points, with the team's highest points scorers being Mark McNally with 125 and Andrew Fenn, who scored 122. The team had their best ever season in 2012, finishing 16th out of 125 teams in the final rankings on 879 points. Gediminas Bagdonas was the team's highest points scorer with 346 points, a tally that was good enough to put him in tenth place in the individual standings. Niko Eeckhout contributed 187 points to the tally, while Kenneth Vanbilsen scored 131. In 2013 the team finished 28th overall with a total of 341 points.
Team roster
As at 31st December 2017
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Major wins
- 2008
- Overall Vuelta a Extremadura, Daniel Lloyd
- Stage 1, Team Time Trial
- Overall FBD Insurance Rás, Stephen Gallagher
- Overall Tour des Pyrénées, Daniel Fleeman
- 2009
- Stages 4 & 5 Vuelta a Extremadura, Niko Eeckhout
- Stage 1 FBD Insurance Rás, Niko Eeckhout
- Overall Ronde de l'Oise, Steven Van Vooren
- Grote Prijs Stad Zottegem, Niko Eeckhout
- Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen, Niko Eeckhout
- 2010
- Stage 5 Étoile de Bessèges, Niko Eeckhout
- Stage 3 Ronde de l'Oise, Niko Eeckhout
- Stage 3 FBD Insurance Rás, David O'Loughlin
- Stage 7 FBD Insurance Rás, Mark Cassidy
- 2011
- Stage 2 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, Niko Eeckhout
- Stage 7 Tour de Bretagne Cycliste, Andrew Fenn
- Overall An Post Rás, Gediminas Bagdonas
- Stages 2 & 4, Gediminas Bagdonas
- Memorial Van Coningsloo, Andrew Fenn
- Overall Ronde de l'Oise, Gediminas Bagdonas
- Stage 2, Gediminas Bagdonas
- GP Stad Geel, Sam Bennett
- Overall Mi-Août en Bretagne, Mark McNally
- Stage 7 Tour of Britain, Gediminas Bagdonas
- 2012
- Kattekoers, Roy Jans
- Ronde van Noord-Holland, Gediminas Bagdonas
- Omloop der Kempen, Niko Eeckhout
- Stages 3 & 8 An Post Rás, Gediminas Bagdonas
- Memorial Van Coningsloo, Gediminas Bagdonas
- Schaal Sels, Niko Eeckhout
- 2013
- Stage 5 Tour of Britain, Sam Bennett
- Stage 2 An Post Rás, Shane Archbold
- Stages 3 & 8 An Post Rás, Sam Bennett
- Stage 2 Ronde de l'Oise, Glenn O'Shea
- 2014
- Stage 1 An Post Rás, Robert-Jon McCarthy
- 2015
- Stage 3 Tour d'Azerbaïdjan, Josh Edmondson
- Stages 2 & 5 An Post Rás, Aaron Gate
- Stages 4 & 8 An Post Rás, Aidis Kruopis
- Overall Ronde de l'Oise, Josh Edmondson
- Stage 4, Josh Edmondson
- Antwerpse Havenpijl, Aidis Kruopis
- 2017
- Stage 1 Tour du Loir et Cher, Damien Shaw
- Stage 5 Tour de Bretagne, Przemysław Kasperkiewicz
- Stage 3 An Post Rás, Matthew Teggart
- Stage 5 An Post Rás, Regan Gough
- Stage 8 An Post Rás, Przemysław Kasperkiewicz
National champions
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2017
References
- Stoes, Shane (7 December 2013). "Eeckhout takes up coaching and directeur sportif role with An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team". velonation.com. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- https://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2017/1030/916327-an-post-chain-reaction/
- "2007 team database. Note at bottom stating merger, Cyclingnews.com". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
- "New look Irish continental team launched in Dublin". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- "Kenneally Takes Final Stage, Martin Wins Overall". FBD Insurance Ras.com. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- "An Post to sponsor Sean Kelly team". RTE.ie. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- "Sean Kelly pushes harder for 2008". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- "Stage victory for O'Loughlin, Gallagher takes An Post's greatest win". Irish Cycling. Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- "An Post Chainreaction to register as Irish; targets pro-continental status and more sponsors". stickybottle.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
