Just one month remains before the start of the FBD Insurance Rás and two more strong overseas Continental (pro) teams have been confirmed for the race.

Thomas Bendixen Team Vision Bikes Denmark

Danish riders are making a return after several years’ absence with the entry of the Denmark-Team Vision Bikes squad. Managed by former CSC professional Jimmi Madsen, the lineup comprises Benjamin Justesen, Simon Lerbech, Michael Johansen, Mads Bugge Andersen and Thomas Bendixen.

“The team will be after stage victories,” said Madsen who, during his own career, rode the Tour of Italy and took bronze medals in the Olympic and world championship team pursuit. “Watch out for Michael Johansen in long breakaways, and Benjamin Justesen and Simon Lerbech in the hills and maybe even in the overall classification, if things go that way.”

Justesen is a strong climber and last month placed third in the King of the Mountains classification in the 1.2 Classic Loire Atlantique. He is also a good mountainbike rider, winning four out of the six stages plus the overall classification in the Danish mountainbike winter trophy series. The 27 year old clocks in at just 55 kilos in weight and Madsen feels he will be a contender for the Mountains jersey in the FBD Insurance Rás.

22 year old Lerbech is also a strong climber, but despite his low body mass he is arguably the fastest finisher on the team.

The squad is completed by three experienced riders in their thirties. Madsen describes Johansen (33) as ‘the strongman of the team.’ He won the KCK-BCC race in 2005 and finished second last Sunday in the Danish season opener in Ringsted.

Mads Bugge Andersen (35) has been racing track all winter and is in good form as a result. He had two victories in 2006, including the Brugger Abendrennen in Switzerland. Thomas Bendixen is the road captain of the squad and, at 34 years of age, will have plenty of experience in the peloton. He won the HOME-race in Holbaek last season and was part of the Vision Bikes - Loegstoer Parkhotel Team Time Trial team that got bronze in the 2005 Danish championships

The second strong team confirmed for this year’s race is the Australia – FRF Couriers squad. They had a successful showing in the 2006 FBD Insurance RÁS, with Peter Herzig finishing seventh overall plus second in the King of the Mountains classification, and Joshua Marden winning stage three to An Daingean. The riders were also third in the international team classification, and between them took a total of nine top-ten placings on stages [including first, third, fourth and fifth].

Herzig and Peter McDonald will be back this year, along with the team’s new under 23 riders Jason Hegert, Chris Jory and Brendan Brooks.

Peter Herzig FRF Australia NSWIS in the Mountains Jersey 2006

Team manager Andy Portess is looking forward to building on their 2006 showing. “This year the squad will be hoping Herzig can improve on his 7th spot on GC and are looking forward to the mountainous route,” he said. “Herzig will again be looking for the King of the Mountains jersey [he led the competition for two stages in 2006], and will be motivated following his win in the KOM classification in the Tour of Hainan late last year.

“Peter McDonald is also one to watch and is in hot form this season, placing 10th against all the top Australian pros in the national championships. He recently won the Blaney to Bathurst race, which finishes at the top of the famous mount panorama, with a 20 km solo breakaway from Australia’s top riders.”

With the three young riders all taking podium placing in UCI races in the last twelve months, Portess is confident that a good performance lies ahead. “After last year we are hoping to be a force in the race,” he stated. “2006 was the team’s first race in Europe and are now a lot more experienced after riding many UCI tours last year. We would not be travelling across from the other side of the world if we did not think we had a chance of winning the Irish tour.”

The 2007 FBD Insurance RÁS will get underway on Sunday May 20th with a 157 kilometre stage from Naas to Templemore. The riders will cover almost 1200 kilometres of highly competitive racing as they travel anti-clockwise around the country, taking in additional stage finishes at Loughrea, Sligo, Dungloe, Buncrana, Derry, Newcastle and Skerries.

The race is sponsored once again by FBD Insurances and also receives important backing from the Irish Sports Council.

For further details contact: Dermot Dignam 01-8481517 or Sally Ryan 01- 6496400

or log-on to:  www.fbdinsuranceras.com