Strong foreign challenge expected

CYCLING RÁS:AN ARMY of strong foreign teams will clash with some of Ireland's most promising up-and-coming riders in the An Post Rás, which begins in Dunboyne on Sunday. Renamed from the previous FBD Insurance Rás due to new sponsorship, indications are the race will grow in size and continue to build on what has been very good backing over the past few decades.

The An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Seán Kelly team and the Skoda Ireland national team were both announced this week and, along with the usual Irish county teams, will represent this country’s hopes in the race.

The first of those two teams will feature former stage winners Sam Bennett and Mark Cassidy, as well as another strong Irish talent, Ronan McLaughlin. The quintet will be completed by foreign riders Mark McNally and Gediminas Bagdonas.

The Skoda Ireland squad will be captained by former Giant Asia pro Paul Griffin who, along with team manager Neil Martin, will guide the promising under-23 riders Seán Downey, Felix English and Conor Dunne, as well as Belgian-based Peter Hawkins.

Their task is a difficult one due to the strength of the overseas challenge. A dozen overseas squads have previously been announced, including Drapac professional (Australia), New Zealand, ISD Lampre (Ukraine), Drapac Professional team (Australia), New Zealand, Wonderful Pistachios (USA), KTM Murcia (Spain/Greece), Thuringer Energie (Germany), AVC Aix en Provence (France) and Giant Kenda (Taiwan). These are joined by four British squads, Motorpoint, Sigma Sport-Specialized, Rapha Condor Sharp and Forme-Procycliste-Sanlamere.

KTM Murcia and Thuringer Energie look particularly dangerous, with the former featuring several riders who have competed in the sport’s Grand Tours, and the latter featuring some of German’s top young talent. It won the race in 2007 with Tony Martin, now one of the world’s top pro riders.

The event begins with two flat, fast stages, ending in Portumna and Kilrush. Day three to Castleisland includes the category-one climb of Crag Cave, while stage four to Castletownbere includes the second category climb of Ladies View, the similarly-ranked Molls Gap and the first-category legbreaker of the Healy Pass.

Stages five and six cover 156 kilometres to Blarney and 172 kilometres to Tramore, respectively, and are peppered with climbs. The latter has six category three ascents, perfect for encouraging breaks, and concludes with an uphill sprint to the line.

The penultimate leg of the Rás travels 157 kilometres between Tramore and Kildare, and includes the category-two slopes of Brown Mountain plus the category-one climb of Clogrennane. The event then concludes with a 133 kilometre dash between Kildare and Skerries. It features five category-three climbs and ends with the same finishing circuit as has been used in recent years.

Each stage of the event will be preceded by the novel Race the Rás. This will see 50 current and former GAA personalities ride the route, along with 100 amateur riders. The group includes three-time All-Star Seán Óg Ó hÁilpín, Galway’s Ollie Canning, Waterford’s Dan Shanahan, and former Mayo and Roscommon football manager John Maughan, and is raising money for the Irish Cancer Society and GOAL. Donations are welcome at www.racetheras.com/donate or at any Ulster bank branch.

AN POST RÁS ROUTE:

Stage 1, Sunday, May 22nd: Dunboyne-Portumna, 148 kms. Stage 2, Monday, May 23rd: Portumna-Kilrush, 164kms. Stage 3, Tuesday, May 24th: Kilrush-Castleisland, 175kms. Stage 4, Wednesday, May 25th: Castleisland-Castletownbere, 142kms. Stage 5, Thursday, May 26th: Castletownbere-Blarney, 156kms. Stage 6, Friday, May 27th: Blarney-Tramore, 172kms. Stage 7, Saturday, May 28th: Tramore-Kildare, 157kms. Stage 8, Sunday, May 29th: Kildare-Skerries, 133kms.