Seth Dunwoody has been riding for the Bahrain Victorious Development Team for the past two years and now steps up to the World Tour squad permanently (Photo by Massimo Paolone)
Seth Dunwoody has been riding for the Bahrain Victorious Development Team for the past two years and now steps up to the World Tour squad permanently, with the team announcing the deal today.
And the 20-year-old from Armagh won’t be the only young Irish rider securing their first World Tour contract for next season, with further news to follow.
Dunwoody has exceled at everything he has put his hand to – road racing, TT and track – since he started cycling. But it is his sprint and his classics abilities that are likely to form the bedrock of his career going forward.
Indeed, Dunwoody is perhaps the first Sean Kelly-style rider Irish cycling has had since Kelly himself. Kelly told stickybottle earlier this year he believed Dunwoody was a better rider than he was at the same age.
Under the terms of his new deal – which will come with a big salary bump – Dunwoody will ride for the Bahrain Victorious team for at least the next two seasons.
And while he he had two more years at U23 level remaining, his move to World Tour level for next year was anticipated.
He is the first Irish rider to join a junior development team linked to a World Tour team and to progress into its U23 team and then sign for the World Tour line-up.
Dunwoody rode for Orchard CC as a youth rider, then signed for Cannibal B Victorious, enjoying success in Europe immediately – winning two stages and the overall at Penn Ar Bed – Pays d’Iroise (2.1) in his first weeks with the team.
He claimed four UCI-ranked wins in Europe the following year as a junior, and three in his first year as an U23 last year, including a stage at Giro Next Gen.
This year he has been 2nd in the U23 versions of Gent Wevelgem and Paris Roubaix, won the Irish senior road race championships, smashed the Irish senior 10 mile TT record and also won a European title on the track.
“Seth’s promotion is a very important moment for our project,” said Bahrain Victorious managing director Milan Eržen as the team announced it has secured Dunwoody’s services.
“It shows that the pathway we have been building from Cannibal B Victorious through the Development Team to the WorldTour is working as we intended.
“We have always believed in developing young riders step by step, giving them the right environment and time to grow, and Seth is a very good example of that philosophy.
“He has already had the opportunity to race with the WorldTour squad this year, and every experience has helped him become more complete and more confident.
“We are very happy that he has chosen to continue his career with Bahrain Victorious. We believe Seth has a very bright future ahead of him, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”