Team Dan Morrissey-Pactimo
representing Carlow
Rás Tailteann Team Announcement
Team Dan Morrissey-Pactimo are delighted to announce their Rás Tailteann team for Ireland’s biggest cycling race. With Dan Morrissey as sponsor, the team starts with an extensive and memorable Rás history over more than twenty years with county team and stage prizes in the past. The team is sponsored by Dan Morrissey Quarry Group and Pactimo clothing, with Helmets by POC.
The 2022 team will be:
Matteo Cigala
Conor Hennebry
Nathan Keown
Devin Shortt
Adam Stenson
DS: Frank Campbell
Soigneuse: Wendy Cull
Mechanic: Joe Kelly
Matteo Cigala is a 28-year-old Italian based in Wicklow Town; this will be his 4th Rás.
A well-known former international Junior & U23 for the Azzurri, he counts over 200 wins since starting cycling at age six. Matteo now splits his time between coaching, online cycling retail, cycling holidays to Italy, and racing. He recently represented Italy at the 2022 UCI Cycling eSports World Championship and has won over 10 UCI Gran Fondos in Italy in the past 18 months. In Ireland, he was Highest-ranked Cycling Ireland rider in 2017; Stage winner at the Rás Mumhan and the Tour of Ulster, 10 times 1st County Rider over last 3 editions of the Rás Tailteann, and recently won the 2nd stage of the Wicklow-Orwell 2-day stage race (June 2022). As both as sprinter and climber, Matteo has come close stage wins at the Rás and will be looking to improve on previous 2nd and 3rd stage placings.
Conor Hennebry of Dungarvan Co Waterford and originally cycling mecca Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, is one of the teams most experienced riders having ridden for Ireland internationally and in Europe for the An Post Sean Kelly Professional team. This will be Conor’s 4th Rás. Conor is previously the top ranked A1 rider in Ireland and the winner of the national league, overall and of stages in the Tour of Ulster, the Rás Mumhan, and winner of numerous stages and some of Ireland’s toughest domestic races, such as the Des Hanlon. Watch for Conor to shine in the cold, wet, windy, conditions on punchy climbs; he recently won the 3rd stage in the Wicklow-Orwell 2-day in very tough weather and road conditions, also taking 2nd in the GC and winning the Points competition.
Nathan Keown is the youngest member of the team and an up-and-coming rider; this will be his first Rás but he has over 10 years racing experience. Nathan has been earning steady placings in A1 racing since turning Senior impressing manager Frankie Campbell, when he previously rode the Junior Tour for Ireland. Nathan notes this as the first Rás he will have been able to do since it has not been held since he turned senior, so he is extremely excited and motived to be a man-of-the-Rás and help the team. Nathan is an all-round rider. Previously based near London, but who hails from the Belfast area and having just finished his degree in Maths at Queens Belfast, Nathan is keen to get some full-time racing under his belt right away.
Devin Shortt will be joining the team for his first Rás. Devin is an young but experienced international based in Spain and Italy for the last five years. Having performed well in the U23 Europeans for Ireland in Italy in 2021 under manager Frank Campbell, he now passes to the senior ranks. With Shortt’s family connections to the Belfast area like Campbell and Keown’s, the link with the team was natural. Devin has told the team he is extremely excited to do his first Rás and gave account of his form of late with a GC place and 12th on the queen stage and 2nd in the KOM competition at the “Volta a Coruña” in Spain; watch for Devin when the road rises.
Adam Stenson will be riding his 2nd Rás having become a man-of-the-Rás in 2018. From the Dublin area, at age 24 but with 12 seasons racing having raced for Ireland as a Junior and as an U23, and Internationally for UC Monaco in 2018-2021, he brings both youth and experience to the team. Adam has been placing in the A1 domestic racing all spring and will help the team on punchy hills.
Frank Campbell will be the Director Sportif (DS). Very experienced and well-known in Ireland and internationally, he is the team’s regular season DS. Frankie has managed circa 20 Rás teams, County Teams, UK regional teams, Team Ireland manager at Worlds and Europeans and six times Team Ireland Rás Team manager, including 2004 winning team member Dave McCann.
The team will also include the very experienced soignuese Wendy Cull from the Isle of Man, having worked internationally with notables such as Team Wiggins, and veteran mechanic the very experienced Joe Kelly.
Dan Morrissey Quarry Group is the family-owned road and quarry products firm synonymous with quarrying and cycling in the southeast of Ireland for over 3 generations. Dan Morrissey started quarrying in Ballycrogue Co.Carlow in the 1930's. Dan Morrissey Quarry Group has been supporting cycling in Ireland since the 1980s and Dan Morrissey sponsored teams have participated every Rás since the 1990s. Dan Morrissey also sponsors the Carlow Road Cycling Club and the Des Hanlon Memorial Race based in Carlow. Some of Ireland’s most accomplished racers have raced with the team, with Sam Bennett taking his first Rás stage win in the kit at age 19 in Clara in 2009, and Ciaran Power having won stages for the team.
Kevin D. Morrissey managing director and long-time cycling supporter says, “We are delighted to see the Rás back on the roads of Ireland in 2022 and support the team. I was studying the route this morning and it struck me quite a few of the Stage 1 Route in Wicklow, Kildare, Kilkenny, and Laois will be on roads built and supplied from the Dan Morrissey Group quarries throughout the Southeast. We look forward to a safe and competitive Rás and wish everyone involved all the best.”
Pactimo is a Colorado USA company providing premium performance custom cycling clothing with an insatiable desire to deliver a customer experience for those who wear the clothing. Pactimo is delighted to be clothing sponsor for Team Dan Morrissey Pactimo as they line up next Wednesday for Ireland’s premier international stage race, the Rás Tailtteann. Pactimo Brand Manager for Ireland Mandy Collie says, “The team have always represented the brand effortlessly and with pride and wins on the race scene through talent, experience and of course great kit designs. We at Pactimo wish the whole team a super Rás!”
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| Matteo Cigala Carlow Dan Morrissey |
