SAM BENNETT CAN build on his reputation as one of Irish cycling’s top talents when he steps up to Pro-Continental level next season.

Bennett landed a two-year deal with German team Netapp-Endura after a superb season which saw him win two stages of the An Post Rás and a stage at the Tour of Britain.

The 23-year-old has been with the An Post Sean Kelly team at Continental level for the last three seasons but now steps up to Pro-Continental, the tier below the elite racers of the UCI World Tour.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling with Sam,” team manager Kurt Bogaerts said.

I am obviously delighted for him and he deserves this move because he is a very talented rider and he has worked extremely hard for this.

At the same time he has been here for three years and I am sad to see him go.

An Post Sean Kelly have moved to replace Bennett by signing 19 year-old Irish rider Ryan Mullent and British rider Owain Doull, both on one-year contracts.

But they are also losing two of their most experienced riders with Donegal native Ronan McLoughlin and Belgian veteran Niko Eeckhout both leaving the squad.