Newly created Irish Pro-Continental team Aqua Blue Sports have announced the addition of seven riders to its 2017 roster headlined by IAM Cycling's Leigh Howard and Stefan Denifl. The seven riders follow the quartet of Lars Petter Nordhaug, Martyn Irvine, Matt Brammeier and Conor Dunne in joining the team.
The team is aiming for a start at the Tour de France within four years and has started to assemble a roster that will allow it make the dream a reality.
Australian Howard joins the team after spending the 2016 season with IAM Cycling in which he made his debut Tour appearance and enjoyed victories at the Clasica de Almeria and stage 1 of the Tour de Fjords. While the fastman is aiming to continue his winning run with the team, he added he is keen to ensure a successful season overall for the squad.
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"I want to win races of course, but cycling is a team sport so success comes from a team point of view," Howard said. "For Aqua Blue Sport success won't just mean podium places – we're a new name so we'll need to prove ourselves, and prove that we deserve to be up there as a pro team."
"I love the idea of being part of an Irish team – I raced in the Tour of Ireland in 2009 and absolutely loved every minute of it, apart from the rain. To be a part of the first pro conti team to come out of Ireland is really exciting, even though I'm not Irish!" he said.
Howard's IAM Cycling teammate Denifl adds WorldTour and climbing experience to the roster with the 31-year-old explaining is he excited by the new challenge.
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