Dignam agrees to stay for one more Rás

CYCLING:LONGTIME FBD Insurance Rás organiser Dermot Dignam has confirmed he will stay on board for one more edition of the race, which will be held from May 23rd to 30th next year.

The Dubliner was rumoured to be stepping down after this year’s contest but, following discussions with FBD and Cycling Ireland, he has agreed to organise what will be his 31st edition of the race.

It is hoped this will enable a replacement to be found, thus enabling the 57-year-old event to continue in 2011 and beyond.

“The race is in a very healthy state,” he said. “There are more requests for invitations from teams all over the world than ever before, and there is a superb team of volunteers who devote themselves unstintingly each year to making sure it runs off without a hitch. The race receives great co-operation from the gardaí and, with the continued financial support of FBD and the Irish Sports Council, it should continue to go from strength to strength”.

The 2010 edition will once again be ranked 2.2 on the UCI international calendar and a strong line-up of teams is expected. The selection of these will be carefully chosen in order to facilitate the different levels, from professional competitors to the amateurs who take time off work each year to ride their biggest event.

Dignam has plenty of respect for the latter. “It’s unbelievable the level of fitness the county riders achieve to compete in a race of this calibre. In actual fact, it’s these riders who put it up to the international and pro teams by their aggressive racing”.

Two of these, Sam Bennett and the late Paul Healion, won stages in this year’s event. Bennett is due to compete with the VC La Pomme club in France next season, but it is hoped he will be able to take part once again. Dignam is finalising the route and says it will feature tough climbs and long stages. Details will be announced in the New Year.

In other news, a number of fixtures will take place this weekend. This evening a level one coaching course will be held at the ALSAA complex near Dublin Airport. It starts at 7pm, runs until Sunday, and costs €180. The national tandem track championships will take place in Sundrive Road tomorrow, starting 10am. Then on Sunday the fourth round of the Ulster cyclo cross league will be held in Ormeau Park, Belfast.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said it would sue Davide Rebellin for damages after the cyclist tested positive for the banned blood-booster CERA at the Beijing Olympics.

CONI has also demanded Rebellin to return the silver medal he won in the cycling road race at the 2008 Games.