Welcome back to the Banc na hÉireann head quarters in the heart of Dublin town, where we can today announce that Banc na hÉireann has been officially granted a PCT license for the upcoming season. After a solid first year at PCT level we have set our sights on consolidating our position in the division and reaching the top 10. Our focus will as always lie on the talents that Ireland and Britain have to offer, allthough as we saw last season, we will need to look further afield in order to be as succesful as possible.
Sponsors
As for the last two years, Ireland's biggest bank, Bank of Ireland will sponsor us. However, due to the centenary of the easter rising, we decided to go with the Irish name.
In the ranks of minor sponsors, Guinness, Aer Lingus and Triple J carry on their sponsoring from last year, whereas gapyear.com have withdrawn their sponsoring. This leaves place for a new sponsor, our first one from continental Europe - One of the Netherlands biggest newspapers, De Volkskrant. Does that mean we will sign a Dutch rider or two? Who knows.
Also new with us this year is German charity Pro Asyl, who help refugees during the asylum process, but also document human rights violations and campaign for an open society. We will donate an amount of our prize money to them and have also given them some nice space on our jersey, so look out for that in a few days!
Main Sponsor Bank of IrelandBanking
Minor Sponsors GuinnessBeverages Aer LingusTravel De VolkskrantNewspaper Triple JRadio Pro AsylCharity
No brainers really. Jay McCarthy was phenomenal last season and should be our leader for years to come. As for the other two, if you came in with a really good offer I might consider it, but they're simply my two best Irish riders, and as such very, very important to the teams sponsors.
Probably Staying
Sam Harrison
78 SP, 81 ACC
100.000 €
Tobyn Horton
76 SP, 82 ACC
85.000 €
Damian Shaw
73 MO, 74 HI
50.000 €
Isaac Speirs
76 SP, 80 ACC
50.000 €
Dominic Jelfs
73 HI, 74 ACC
50.000 €
Martyn Irvine
75 TT, 76 PRO
50.000 €
Conor McConvey
74 MO, 73 HI
50.000 €
These are all core helpers to our captains, and on top of that they're from core regions. Would take good offers for me to even consider selling.
The future of this lot is very much undecided, so if you're interested in them, feel free to get in contact.
In need of a PT loan
Ryan Mullen
76 TT, 76 PRO
50.000 €
Needs a PT loan to get maxed out, simple as. Would be a good addition to any time, I would think.
Tbh I'm too lazy to go listing the rest of my riders - they're all Irish domestiques that could leave if there's interest, so feel free to contact me about them.
After one year as team leader, it's time to say goodbye to Florentino Marquez. Having joined last offseason from Quickstep for the fee of 1.000.000€, he was expected to be our team leader in the mountains, an expectation he duly delivered on.
Allthough he was never likely to repeat his 2014 PCT-winning form against tougher competition, he tried his heart out, finishing the season in 25th individually and as our teams second highest scorer.
Particular highlights from last season include winning stage two of the Tour d'Andorra and winning the GC at the Tour of Bulgaria, but the one memory we will always cherish is the Bhoys 1-2 of Rafael Serrano, who we can confirm is on his way to Costa Rica to become leader at CT level, and Marquez at the Tour of Catalunya, which eventually lead to him securing our goal of a top 5 GC there.
We wish Florentino, Rafael and their respective managers all the best for the future, and maybe one day a reunion is possible.
Bank of Ireland Banking
De Volkskrant Newspaper 
Triple J Radio
Pro Asyl Charity
Boardman Bikes
