TOP NORWEIGIAN AND CANADIAN TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR
FBD INSURANCE RÁS
With the start of the FBD Insurance RÁS now just over one month away, two more strong, foreign, professional teams have been confirmed for the world-ranked event.
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| Andrew Randell, Symmertrics Cycling Canada |
Race organiser Dermot Dignam announced this week that the Norway-Sparebanken Vest and the Canada-Team Symmetrics squads would be making the trip to Ireland for the May 21st start in Dublin. Their addition brings the number of Continental, professional, level teams to four, following the previous confirmation of USA-TIAA CREF and GB-Recycling.co.uk.
Sparebanken Vest took part in the FBD Insurance RÁS last year and performed very strongly, with Morten Hegreberg winning stage 7, wearing yellow after taking a bonus sprint and placing second on stage one, and landing four other top five placings, including second on stage 6 and third on stage 8. He finished third overall, third in the King of the Mountains competition and second in the points classification.
Team-mate Morten Christiansen won the fifth stage and the squad completed their glittering showing by placing second in the international team competition.
Both Hegreberg and Christiansen are likely to compete this year, as is Are Andresen, who last season won Norway’s biggest stage race, the Ringerike Grand Prix. Christiansen and Hegreberg were first and third in the Norwegian road race championships, beating none other than Tour de France Green Jersey winner Thor Hushovd. Also likely to travel to Ireland is Tour of Hungary 2005 winner Tamas Lengyel and current Slovakian road race champion Martin Prazdnovsky.
With such a strong lineup, it is little wonder that they have high expectations this time round. “We achieved a lot last year and with a stronger team this time round, we will go for victory,” vows team manager Per-Ivar Bøe.
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| Barton Crichton, Symmertrics Cycling Canada |
Dermot Dignam also recognises the threat. “The Norwegians rode a good, aggressive race last time round,” he states. “Having taken part in the FBD Insurance RÁS before, they know the race and what it involves, so they will be more prepared this year. They will be an even bigger danger as a result.”
Another previous stage winner returning to the race is Andrew Randall, who in 2002 sprinted to victory on the fourth stage to Castletownbere. On that occasion he was with the Team Sympatico squad but now, four years later, he is at the helm of the Canada – Team Symmetrics lineup. Dignam feels he too is a real contender. “Andrew Randell was victorious before and is an experienced FBD RÁS competitor. He is a strong rider for the sprints and should be up there again.”
Former national champion Randell is likely to be joined by Brandon Crichton, Cory Lange, Brad Fairall and Will Routley for the 2.2 ranked race. All have a strong pedigree, with Routley and Crichton taking the best young rider jersey in the 2004 and the 2005 Tour de Beauce, another 2.2 national tour. Lange won the 2.1 ranked Tour of Korea in 2004 while Fairall was third in last year’s under 23 Canadian time trial championships. He was also second on the fourth stage of the 2.2 ranked Volta de Rio (Tour of Rio) this season.
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| Tamas Lengyel Sparbanken Vest Norway |
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| Martin Prazdnovsky Sparbanken Vest Norway |
Team manager Jeremy Storie has strong aspirations for the FBD Insurance RÁS. “Symmetrics goes into every stage race with an eye towards victory, both in terms of the overall classification and perhaps in picking up a stage win along the way, We will be bringing a mix of experienced riders and some youth, so we might also be looking at the top U-23 rider category.”
The 2006 FBD Insurance Rás begins in Dublin on May 21st and finishes eight days and over 1200 kilometres later in Skerries on Sunday May 28th, following stage finishes in Enniscorthy, Cobh, An Daingean, Listowel, An Cheathru Rua, Westport and Clara.
The world-ranked race is once again sponsored by FBD Insurance and receives support from the Irish Sports Council.
