Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly has started a new continental racing team this year called simply enough: The Sean Kelly Racing Team. It is comprised of mostly young Irish riders and a few Belgians as well. The team will act as a development squad & use the Sean Kelly Cycling Academy in Belgium as it's headquarters. Funnily enough the team launch & presentation took place last week at the Jameson Distillery in Dublin.

I have heard that Sean is very strict with the young riders. They ride Vitus 979 frames with Campy Super Record parts that feature down tube shifters. They have also been issued pedals with toe clips & straps and are required to wear hairnets & wool jerseys all year round. I believe that he also inspects (and must approve of) every piece of food that the riders intend to eat.

If any of these dudes have just 20% of the balls & determination that Kelly had, then the rest of the continental bunch had better start worrying...

This photo was taken after the 17th stage of the 2003 Tour from Dax to Bordeaux, which was won by Servais Knaven. After the stage I was walking around the finish area with a colleague of mine when we spotted Sean & David Duffield talking at their Eurosport car. They were looking at a map on the bonnet of the car and apparently trying to figure out how to get to Saint-Maxient-l'Ecole for the finish of Stage 18 the following day. David spotted my companion & began chatting with him. After Sean had folded up the map, I asked him for a quick picture. We exchanged a few words but he was in a hurry and seemed to be a bit agitated. Following a few funny quips aimed at David to get him to stop talking and get in the car, Sean got in himself, started the engine and began backing up. At this point David realised he was serious, said his good-byes, jumped in the car & they were gone.

As they drove away, I could hear Sean giving out to David about them being late, hitting traffic, missing dinner etc, etc...