Blue dreams of turning the peloton green

Irish-owned team Aqua Blue is aiming to shake-up how pro cycling is run, and it’s targeting a spot on the Tour de France and beyond

Martyn Irvine, team rider; Tim Barry, sporting director; and Stephen Barrett, director of athletic performance for Aqua Blue Sport Picture: Cathal Noonan
Rick Delaney hopes to harness the growing popularity of cycling in Ireland

To most of the world, Monaco is synonymous with motorsport; the narrow roads, elaborate hairpins and picturesque harbour form the backdrop to the most iconic Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar.

But spending some time in the tiny principality on the Mediterranean coast will quickly reveal that it has also become a hub for professional cycling. The year-round climate and nearby mountains ...