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| Neil Delahaye |
The SUBWAY® chain has announced that it is to sponsor the Irish team competing in this year’s FBD Rás with the team comprising a new generation of riders who will be aiming for stage wins in the eight-day event.
The SUBWAY® chain’s support for the national team is an extension of its sponsorship of Irish cycling with the chain having recently become the title sponsor of the 2010 Classic League.
SUBWAY®, which is the largest quick service food chain in the Republic of Ireland with 109 stores and over 2,000 employees, is no stranger to the sport of cycling and also sponsors a cycling team in New Zealand.
Team Ireland SUBWAY® will be led by the experienced Neil Delahaye following his excellent form in the recent Rás Mumhan where he soloed to a win on stage three on his way to finishing 3rd overall.
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| Simon Williams |
Adam Armstrong’s impressive performance at the Tour of Ulster and his six wins this season have also earned him a place on the team. He outsmarted Malcolm Elliott, who is one of the most tactically astute riders in the U.K., on the final day of the Tour of Ulster to take the race leader’s jersey having gone clear with 15 riders inside the final 25 kilometres.
The Team Ireland SUBWAY® line-up is completed by U23 riders Conor McAllister, Mark McKinley and Simon Williams who have all stepped up a level this year with ambitions of racing in Europe.
The team will be managed by former international and 2004 Rás winner, Tommy Evans whose experience will be crucial as the team targets stages while keeping a close eye on any opportunities to take the race leader’s yellow jersey.
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| Mark McKinley |
“We have selected a young team but they are coming into form at the right time and with Adam Armstrong as the overall winner of one of Ireland’s biggest and most hotly contested races included in the squad I believe that the riders will give a good account of themselves,” said Phil Leigh, High Performance Director with Cycling Ireland.
“We are very fortunate this year to have the backing of the SUBWAY® chain who are sponsoring the Irish Team in this and other races throughout 2010. Their support allows us to ensure that the team has all the backing it requires to be successful in this year’s Rás,” he said.
Paul Heyes, Development Agent for SUBWAY® in Ireland said that the quick service food chain was delighted to announce this extension to its sponsorship of cycling in Ireland.
“We have had a fantastic response to our sponsorship of the National Classic League and are delighted to extend our sponsorship to Team Ireland. We plan to support Cycling Ireland in developing the sport as a competitive and leisure activity and we are looking forward to the performance of Team Ireland SUBWAY® in the FBD Rás,” he said.
