The Irish team, which is in its first season, has received a wildcard invite to the Grand Tour in Augut and Aqua Blue Sport founder, Irish businessman Rick Delaney has hailed the invite as huge news for his young team.
He said: “We spoke in the team presentation at the start of the year about winning on and off the bike. We dreamed about trying to perform at the highest level and we hoped that we might achieve a world tour start at some point in the future.
“It is an emotional moment. I dreamed of a grand tour start and now it has been realised.
“Three months in to our first season we have a Grand Tour invite. I believe it is very important to dream and this is evidence that dreams do come true.
“We are delighted and humbled to have received this incredible honour so early in our time.
“The Vuelta is a fantastic and historic event – for Aqua Blue Sport to be there is a fantastic achievement for such a young team.
“I want to extend my gratitude to the organisers for placing their faith in our team – we are all looking forward to getting there to the start line in Nimes.”
General Manager Stephen Moore welcomed the invitation and said that the team are ready to take the big leap into Grand Tour racing.
He said: “Aqua Blue Sport has been working hard to show that we deserve this place. That hard work is already paying off.
“We will be putting together a strategy to give our Irish and international fans a lot to cheer about when the race begins. Before that we will continue to compete and hunt for that coveted first win.
“Everyone working with the team, the riders and backroom staff, and those working on our www.aquabluesport.com ecommerce project at home in Ireland, are delighted to hear of this invite. We are going to continue with the enthusiasm we have shown so far this season and bring our fighting Irish spirit to the Vuelta this August.”
La Vuelta 2017 starts in the French city of Nimes on August 19 with a spectacular Team Time Trial through the historic winding streets.
It will then, after a flat sprint stage, return to Spain where the riders will face the imposing climbs that has marked La Vuelta as a huge test of endurance.
The race will eventually make its way to the finish in Madrid after 3,297kms over 21 stages.
Kev Monks for Digital Sports Group
Source: DSG
