Rory Townsend winning the gold medal, again, in the senior men’s road race at the National Road Championships in Co Meath in June (Photo: Toby Watson)
National champion, classics breakaway artist and World Tour race winner Rory Townsend has extended his pro career by at least another two years after signing a new deal with ProConti team Unibet Rose Rockets.
The Irish rider, who took the best results of his career this year, will wear the national champion’s kit for the French-registered team next year, which is shaping up for a Grand Tour debut next season.
Townsend had been riding with Q36.5 Pro Cycling this year and as he moves out of that squad, compatriots Sam Bennett and Eddie Dunbar move in.
However, though a new generation of riders is emerging younger and faster than ever, Townsend keeps his place in the pro game with this new deal. And he will be hoping to land more big results like his victory at ADAC Cyclassics one-day World Tour race in Germany back in August.
His new contract has been announced this evening with probably the worst launch video on social media we have ever seen (below), though that is not Townsend’s fault, of course. Let’s hope the performances for the team are a bit better on the road next season than they are on social media at present.
Townsend joins the team along with recent big name signing Dylan Groenewegen, the Dutch sprinter who has won six Tour de France stages. He has also signed for two years and comes into the team from Team Jayco AlUla.
Another notable signing of late is Dutch rider Wout Poels; the 2016 Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner joining on a one-year deal after riding for XDS Astana Team this year.
More to come.
We can’t wait to show you this design 😍
🤝 Welcome Rory. We can’t wait to see you in this kit! 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/gpawfJG67w
— Unibet Rose Rockets (@rockets_cycling) October 31, 2025