Philip Deignan

Born in Letterkenny, County Donegal, 7 September 1983.  Philip is an Irish Olympian and professional road racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental Team.  Philip first set foot on a bike in 1997 during a charity cycling event organised by Paddy Delap in Letterkenny.  Deignan has long been earmarked as one of the most talented riders to ever emerge from these shores.  He has been professional since 2005.  His first professional road race win was in the Tour du Doubs when he attacked a breakaway group that contained his fellow Irishman and teammate at the time Mark Scanlon.

He qualified to represent Ireland at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  He finished in 81st place in the 150.2 mile road race on 9 August.  Deignan was the best Irish finisher when placing 40th at the 2009 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race in Mendrisio.  He ended the 2009 season UCI ranked 75th, with 61 points, which helped Ireland to 16th in the team rankings

Deignan signed for Team RadioShack for 2011.  After one season with RadioShack, he signed on with UnitedHealthcare for the 2012 season.  Subsequently Deignan announced he was returning to the UCI World Tour in 2014 by joining Team Sky.  United healthcare has been good for Philip Deignan and the management good to him.  But even they will be delighted he is making a big move to Team Sky.

"I'm really excited to get the opportunity to race for the biggest team in the world and to be able to ride for some of the best riders in the world, It is going to be a big challenge but I'm really looking forward to it.  It is a fantastic team where nothing is left to chance, with the coaching and the diet, which will really suit the type of rider that I am.  Team Sky will offer me the kind of environment I need to be in to help me perform to the best of my ability.  I now feel like I'm at the level where I can race in the WorldTour in Europe, so when I got the opportunity to head back there with Team Sky, it was hard to resist."