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| Aidis Kruopis An Post Chainreaction |
With the start of the 2015 An Post Rás just days away, An Post-Chain Reaction Sean Kelly team manager Kurt Bogaerts has named a strong five-man line-up. They will tackle the gruelling eight day, stage race, which begins this Sunday May 17th in Dunboyne, Co. Meath.
With the team hampered by injuries in recent weeks, Bogaerts includes Conor Dunne and Ryan Mullen as the two Irish riders, alongside Great Britain’s Joshua Edmondson, Lithuania’s Aidis Kruopis and New Zealander Aaron Gate.
Dunne led the Rás back in 2013, picking up the Stage 1 win from Longford to Nenagh, while Irish Elite Road Race Champion and time-trial specialist, Ryan Mullen, is also included in the team, in what will be his first Rás.
Edmondson goes into the Rás in dazzling form following his 6th place finish overall at the Tour d’Azerbaidjan, which included a win on the 177km third stage in Gabala.
Bogaerts is looking forward to his teams’ return to Irish soil and believes the new route changes will add greatly to the unpredictability An Post Rás has long been known for over the years.
“The wind will play a big part this year with a lot of exposed stages, particularly along the west coast. It will be challenging no doubt, but there will be plenty of chances to attack which will suit some of our lads. We’ve prepared well and feel we are certainly in with a chance of winning”.
Rás race director Tony Campbell believes that this year’s An Post team will be an influence, on the race, as always. “More often than not, they have riders in the mix. There are a lot of talented lads in the team again this year with a good mix of youth and experience, so I fully expect them to be challenging for those yellow stage jerseys”.
The 2015 An Post Rás will begin in Dunboyne on Sunday May 17th and will feature stage end finishes in Carlow, Tipperary, Bearna, Newport, Ballina, Ballinamore, Drogheda and Skerries.
