The strength of the foreign opposition in this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS, which starts from Dublin on the 21st of next month, continues to mount with the news that the powerful Polish professional team, Legia-Bazylisek, has confirmed its participation for the big Irish 8 Day International Cycle Race. Team Legia now joins the USA, Canada, Norway and Britain as certain starters when the race takes to the roads of Ireland in a little over four weeks time.
Confirming their participation and naming his riders for the gruelling event the team’s Directeur Sportif, Zbigniew Ludwiniak, said “my team are all up and coming young riders with the exception of Jaroslaw Welniak who is an experienced multi-stage racer, with this blend of youth and experience we are confident we can make our visit to Ireland a winning one”. The riders are, Bartlomiej Matysiak, Lukasza Modzelewski Przemyslaw Pietrzak and Welniak.
Race Organiser, Dermot Dignam, has also confirmed there are more professional, or in modern cycling parlance, Continental, teams in the pipeline for this year’s race. Dignam said ”its our intention to present the Irish riders with the strongest possible challenge and in addition to the four teams already announced there will be at least another three pro teams in the line-up.
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.
