In recent years, Israel-Premier Tech had become known for a roster tending towards the older side of the pro peloton, hiring experienced veterans in their mid-30s as they fought to retain WorldTour status.
However, alongside experienced team leaders such as Chris Froome, Daryl Impey, and Michael Woods, the squad has also brought in an influx of talented young riders over the past few seasons, drawing heavily on their Continental Israel Cycling Academy squad to promote from within.
Names such as Matthew Riccitello (fourth at the last Tour de l’Avenir), sprinter Corbin Strong, and Giro d’Italia breakaway star Derek Gee have been joined this year by young outside hires Jake Stewart and Ethan Vernon, as well as a new crop of Academy graduates including Canadian Riley Pickrell.
Another youngster who has stepped up this season – via several team camps and a stagiaire spell last fall – is 23-year-old Colaradan Riley Sheehan, who has come up through the Lux junior team and a spell at Aevolo, among other teams.
If the name sounds familiar then you may have already seen him tear it up Stateside for the Denver Disruptors last year, beating Miguel Angel Lòpez at the Joe Martin Stage Race and finishing fourth at Redlands and the Tucson Bicycle Classic.
But his biggest result yet – and his first-ever pro win – came before he even turned professional this winter, as Sheehan beat Lewis Askey and Tobias Johannessen to win the 117th edition of Paris-Tours in October.
A stagiaire winning a pro race is a vanishingly rare occurrence, and so it was no surprise to hear the news that Israel-Premier Tech were signing him up on a three-year deal starting this season.
If you hadn’t already guessed, Sheehan loves one-day racing – he reconned the Paris-Roubaix route with Sep Vanmarcke this week and will take on Strade Bianche at the weekend – and so Cyclingnews caught up with him at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne as he got his first taste of the Belgian cobbled Classics.
Cyclingnews: We’re here at Opening Weekend for your second and third professional races. How are you finding your first spring Classics?
Riley Sheehan: I’ve been quite excited actually. Omloop wasn’t such a warm welcome but it was good. I’m definitely learning all the roads and whatnot because it’s all a first time for me. I think each day I can progress a lot.
I already found some good points yesterday where I could find my rhythm and feel myself in the race. Hopefully, I can keep that trajectory on the up.
CN: How has…
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