PRESS RELEASE.
CANADIAN, DUTCH AND BRITISH PRO TEAMS FOR FBD INSURANCE RÁS.
The intense competition expected from professional teams in this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS has soared with the news that pro teams from Canada, Netherlands and Britain are to join those of the Czech Republic, Estonia and Norway when the big 8 day international cycle race gets underway from the GPO on Sunday fortnight.
 |
| 2003 Winner - Chris Newton |
The British squad, Recycling.co.uk/MG-XPOWER/Litespeed, is particularly strong with the inclusion of two former winners of the race, Paul Manning, 2001, and Chris Newton, 2003, ably backed up by a nice blend of youth and experience in Rob Sharman, Shaun Snodden and Ben Greenwood. The Dutch Team B&E are seasoned campaigners competing with all the big names in races throughout Europe and also have the added advantage of having competed in the RÁS a few years ago. David Butler, Directeur Sportif of the Canadian team, Jet Fuel Coffee, has built a solid, cohesive team of young riders around the experienced Stig Somme and Andrew Randell since their last appearances on Irish roads in 2002 when Randell notched up a stage win into Castletownbere. Somme and Randell will have the solid support of three of Canada’s most promising young riders, Zach Bell, Kevin Miller and Mark Pozniak.
Team B&E is Tino Haakman, Richard Kooijman, Aldo Klomb, Sander Lormans and Gerard Windhouwer.
The Canadians, following a series of preparation races in Spain and France, will travel with the Dutch and British by Stena Ferry arriving in Ireland on Saturday 21st May.
In addition to the six pro teams, or Continental teams as they are classified since the UCI reform of international racing earlier this year, the record, and maximum, field of 200 riders will also include France, Germany, Scotland, Wales, the Irish national team and seventeen county teams.
 |
| Andrew Randell, Team Jet Fuel Coffee |
