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| Alessio Signego Team Nippo |
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| Mariusz Wiesoak Team Nippo |
The first-ever pro teams from Japan and Spain to compete in the FBD Insurance RÁS will be included in the huge field of 170 riders representing teams from Ireland, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Belgium, USA, Britain, IOM and Wales when the 1200 kilometres race gets underway from Dunboyne on Sunday week, 23rd May.
The addition of these two teams further boosts the impressive international profile of this year’s race and brings to eight the number of pro teams in the line-up. Ireland will be represented by two national teams, including a development squad, and seventeen county teams. New Zealand, Wales and the IOM will also be national teams.
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| Nicholas Winter Team Nippo |
The Japanese-registered Team Nippo squad will be managed by Alberto Elli, who held the yellow jersey for four days in the 2000 Tour de France. It features former Team Milram pro Luca Barla plus past-NCG Medical-OTC Doors rider Alessio Signego.
Also included are the Polish rider Mariusz Wiesiak, who has taken several impressive wins in the past including the Archer Grand Prix plus a stage of the Tour of Japan, the Swiss rider Nicolas Winter and the Japanese Masaaki Kikuchi.
“The goal of Team Nippo in the race will be to win as many stages as possible with Wiesiak and Signego,” said Elli, who is clearly determined to leave a mark on the race. “Also, we want to aim for the overall with Barla. It’s our first time to do the race and we are very happy to go there.”
Also making their FBD RÁS debut will be the competitors with the Spanish pro team Burgos 2016-Castilla y León. Byron Patricio Guama de la Cruz is likely to be one of the strongest.
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| David Francisco Delgado Spain |
He is a former national champion of Ecuador and double winner of the 2.2-ranked national tour there, and last year won two stages of the 2.2 Vuelta a Guatemala. He was also fifth in the South American Games road race in Medellín earlier this season.
Diego Gallego Arnaiz showed strong form this year when he placed ninth in the 1.1-ranked GP Llodio, while Raul Santamarta Valbuena finished in the same position in the third stage of the Vuelta Castilla y Leon.
David Francisco Delgado and Luis Guillermo will also be part of the squad, and the latter showed good form when he was third on a stage of the 2010 GP Portugal.
“The addition of these teams further strengthens the international opposition in this year’s race” said FBD RÁS race organiser Dermot Dignam on Monday. “It also represents the first time professional squads from Spain and Japan will take part. “The strength of the overseas teams will require the Irish competitors to race strongly and with carefully thought-out strategies.”
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| RaulSantamarta Valbuena Spain |
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| Diego Gallego Arnaiz Spain |
This year’s FBD RÁS begins on Sunday May 23rd and runs for eight days. It will be 1219 kilometres in length, crosses 24 tough categorised climbs, and features stage finishes in Dundalk, Carrick on Shannon, Ougherard, Tipperary, Seskin Hill/Carrick on Suir, Gorey, Kilcullen and Skerries.
The 2.2-ranked event will be once again sponsored by FBD Insurances and supported by the Irish Sports Council.
