Lavery joins Synergy Baku Cycling Project
Baku, February 18 (AZERTAC). Synergy Baku Cycling Project has further personnel changes, as Will Walker has announced his retirement from riding and Irishman Philip Lavery has joined the team. Walker will stay associated with the Baku setup, in a back room capacity as coaching staff.Lavery, 23, has ridden for two other Continental ranked teams, and was with an amateur French team last season, before serving as a stagiaire for the Cofidis Team. He did not get a pro contract with Cofidis when it did not become ProTour. Assuming his career was over, he sold his bikes and took a full-time job. He will make his debut for Baku on February 23 at the GP Izola in Slovenia.
“Initially when the place become vacant, we looked to the Azerbaijan Federation or riders from the regions,” said team manager David McQuaid.
Lavery brought in four first-place finishes with his amateur team last year and was second in the Irish national road race, behind new Baku teammate Matt Brammeier. In 2012 he was National U-23 road champion.
Walker, 28, has had to retire due to heart problems. He had previously skipped the 2010 and 2011 seasons, but made a two-year comeback and hoped to continue with Baku this season. However, the heart problems re-occurred during his first race this year, the Australian National Championships and he made the decision to end his active career.
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