TOUR DE FRANCE INSPIRES FBD INSURANCE RÁS STAGE

History will be made in the 2006 edition of the FBD Insurance RÁS when, for the first time ever, a spectacular team time trial will reshuffle the overall classification of the world ranked race.

Team Sparbanken Vest Norway working to bring back the leaders in last years event

The race against the clock is inspired by the dramatic clashes between teams in recent editions of the Tour de France, a visual spectacle that is one of the most dramatic in cycling. On Friday May 26th this type of battle will be played out on the roads around the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) village of An Cheathru Rua (Carraroe), guaranteeing flat-out racing from the teams over the 24 Kilometre route.

Day 6 of the FBD Insurance RÁS is likely to be one of the most influential, with two stages taking place. The morning team time trial will be followed by an 83-kilometre stage that afternoon, posing a real challenge to the riders. Their speed, determination and technique will be tested to the limit in the TTT, while good recovery will be of vital importance later that day.

"We feel that it will make for a great stage," said FBD Insurance Ras organiser Dermot Dignam. "The Team Time Trial has been one of the most spectacular clashes in recent Tours de France. The prospect of seeing top riders from world cycling compete against the very best Irish riders in such a dramatic test should guarantee a good tournout of spectators,as well as some very exciting racing."

In addition to taking inspiration from the Tour, race organisers will also use similar rules to guarantee that no team loses an insurmountable chunk of time over the 24 kilometres. The differences between the teams will be capped, with the second-placed squad losing twenty seconds and each successive team thereafter conceding a further five seconds. As an example, the third-placed team will concede 25 seconds, while the fourth will give up thirty.

Team Recycling.Co.UK showing some team work

“A similar system will also operate for the county teams in the FBD Insurance RÁS. The fastest of these will lose no time to that of the day’s quickest squad, with the next twenty seconds behind and then each successive team also conceding a further five seconds. The teams’ actual time will count for the General Team Classification.

“The idea behind the ruling is to ensure that strong riders on relatively weaker teams are not unduly penalised by the Team Time Trial,” Dignam explained. “We drew largely on a system used in the Tour de France, but adjusted it in very important areas to suit the type of event that is the FBD Insurance RÁS. It means that if a race favourite happens to ride as part of a county team, he has the same chance as those on the international or professional squads.”

Dignam adds that the twenty-second winning margin will be a real incentive to riders to dig deep during the test. “One difference with the Tour system is that even if the second-placed team is just marginally slower at the finish, the top squad will still earn what is effectively a twenty second bonus. This will provide further encouragement to riders to aim for the win.”

Although team time trials have featured in the RÁS before, this will be the first time that they will directly affect the general classification. Cheathru Rua’s hosting of the finish of stage 5 and then the following day’s Team Time Trial also makes history. “We are particularly pleased to bring the FBD Insurance RÁS to An Cheathru Rua in the beautiful Connemara Gaeltacht for the first time ever,” said Dignam. “Perhaps it's fitting that our first visit should also include a first-ever Team Time Trial that impacts on the individual general classification. We believe that it makes for a very exciting test against the clock, and one which could produce many surprises on the General Classification.”

The team test against the clock will start and finish in An Cheathru Rua and take in a loop through Casla, Bóthar Loch an Fhiolair, An Tulach, Caorán na gCeac Theas, Ros a Mhíl, Casla and back to the finish.

The organising of the stage finish and Team Time Trial are in the safe hands of Club Rothaíochta Chonamara, which organises the popular RÁS an Turcaí on 28th December.

More details of the 2006 FBD Insurance RÁS will be announced shortly.

For further details contact: Dermot Dignam 01-8481517

or Sally Ryan 01-6496400

or log-on to:  www.fbdinsuranceras.com