Following an elaborate scam last year to use the FBD Insurance RÁS as a means of illegal entry into the country by a group purporting to be an Iranian cycling team, it has been announced that Iran will definitely be represented in this year’s race when it gets underway from Navan on Sunday 18th May.

Abbas Saeiditanha

Race Organiser Dermot Dignam confirmed that, following contacts with the Iranian Embassy in Dublin and the Iranian Cycling Federation, the very strong UCI Continental (pro) Azad University cycling team will make the long journey to Ireland to take part in the UCI ranked 8 day international FBD Insurance RÁS.

Amir Zargari, Abbas Saeiditanha, Mehdi Sohrabi, Hassan Maleki Mizan and Mehdi Faridi will line out for the Continental-level Iran – Azad University team, and have enough individual and collective strength to make a big impression on the race.

Mehdi Sohrabi won the Asian Games road race in 2006 and has also taken the Iranian national road race and time trial titles. 2007 was a very successful season for the 26 year old, with his wins including the overall classification in the Jelajah Malaysia, three stages in the Tour of Milad du Nour, two stages in Kerman Tour and one apiece in the Tour of East Java and the Tour de Hokkaido.

Amir Zargari is a strong rider on the road and also in the velodrome. The 27 year old has taken two silver and two bronze medals in track races at the Asian Games and last season won stage two of the Tour of Milad du Nour. His career victories also include stages in the Tour of Azerbaijan, the Tour of East Java and the Kerman Tour.

Team-mate Abbas Saeiditanha (27) has also been successful across the disciplines, netting silver medals in the team pursuit at the 2002 and 2006 Asian Games, taking another in the Asian Games road team time trial, as well as finishing third in the points race at the 2004 Asian cycling championships.

He was a bronze medallist in the time trial at the 2007 Iranian nationals and won a stage of the Azerbaijan Tour back in 2005.

Mahdi Sohrabi

Hassan Maleki Mizan (30) was second on a stage of the prestigious Tour de Langkawi this season and in the past has won a stage in the Kerman Tour plus two stages of the Tour of Egypt. The fifth member of the team, 30 year old Mehdi Faridi, was bronze medallist in last year’s Iranian road race championships.

Announcing the news Dignam said, “it’s probably true to say we were a little annoyed with ourselves for been taken in by the scammers last year and felt we had to make amends by having a legitimate team in this year’s race. We appreciate the assistance  received from the Iranian Embassy and are absolutely delighted with the quality of the team selected to come to Ireland.

Following the start in Navan the race will take in stage finishes in Ballinamore, Claremorris, Lisdoonvarna, Tralee, Skibbereen, Clonmel, and Roundwood with the final stage on Sunday 25th May from Newbridge to Skerries.