Jann Krisipuu In The Yellow Jersey Of The Tour de France

Former Tour de France multiple stage winner and race leader Jaan Kirsipuu has been confirmed as leading the Norwegian Giant Veolia team in this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS.  Aiming for at least one stage win the vastly experienced Kirsipuu will make a determined effort to add the FBD RÁS to his long list of victories.

The Estonian has had a hugely distinguished career, holding the Tour’s maillot jaune for six days one decade ago, netting stage wins in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004, and also nabbing a similar stage victory in the Vuelta a Espana in 1998.

Former Irish pro Mark Scanlon previously competed with the sprint specialist while on the Ag2r team and helped him to take that 2004 Tour stage victory.

The sprinter clocked up over 130 wins during a 14 year pro career and, although he officially retired from professional cycling in 2006, the 39 year old still competes successfully as an amateur. He was Estonian time trial champion in 2007 and is the reigning title holder for the road race.

FBD Insurance RÁS organiser Dermot Dignam said that he was excited by the news. “Having a rider with such a vast experience is big news for the race,” he said this week. “Jaan Kirsipuu is one of the big names in world cycling and while he officially retired from pro racing in 2006, he’s continued winning. He’s sure to make a big impression.

“Having him here is a chance for the public to see one of the toughest riders in world cycling, and also gives his fellow competitors the opportunity to ride alongside someone who stands to be perhaps the most experienced FBD RÁS entrant ever.”

Kirsipuu will be joined by two other fast gallopers. 32 year old Rune Jogert is a former team-mate of Thor Hushovd and has won a number of important races, including the Norwegian road race and criterium championships plus a stage of the Tour of Normandy.

Rune Jogert Team Giant Veolia Norway

“His 26 year old brother Espen has also inherited good fast-twitch fibres and is another strong finisher. He’s clocked up several wins in Norwegian national events and is ready to move on to the next stage of his career.

The team will feature an interesting Irish connection. 42 year old Linus Murphy is a former Orwell club team-mate of Stephen and Laurence Roche, and was at one point on the Irish international squad. A bad knee injury led to him taking a seventeen year break from serious competition, but he restarted at 38 years of age. He has been living in Norway for fourteen years and will be fired up to ride well on home soil.

The quintet is completed by 32 year old Joachim Pettersen who, along with Murphy, is likely to play a strong supporting role.

“The team will be aiming for stage wins through Kirsipuu, who is still very strong, or Rune Jogert,” said David McQuaid, who will be managing the team in the race. “The aim will be to get them to the finish [with the leaders] where they can use their sprints.”

The 2009 FBD Insurance Rás will begin in Kilcullen on May 17th and , over the course of eight days, will feature stage finishes in Wexford, Cobh, Cahirciveen, Killorglin, Scariff, Castlebar, Clara and Skerries. The world-ranked contest is 1289 kilometres in length and includes over twenty categorised climbs. Ireland’s Stephen Gallagher triumphed in 2008, the first home victory in four years.