Trio of Irish riders to kick of 2010 campaign
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| Connor McConvey Team An Post |
An Post Sean Kelly team manager Kurt Bogaerts today named his team for this years Rás, which starts on Sunday May 23rd in Dunboyne, Co Meath. The line up features three Irishmen – Mark Cassidy, David O’Loughlin and Connor McConvey, alongside Liverpudlian Mark McNally and Belgian Pieter Ghyllebert.
The youthful five man team includes three riders who will be making their Rás debuts for the An Post team; McConvey, McNally and Ghyllebert.
Of the Irish trio O’Loughlin is the most experienced, having won the King of the Mountains jersey last year. He has three top five Rás finishes to his name and is also a double stage winner. Cassidy, a former under 23 Irish Champion, is another stage winner and held the yellow jersey for a stage in ‘08.
Belfast native McConvey will be taking part in his first Rás, having switched from mountain biking to road racing at the start of the season. However, he has been one of the team’s most consistent performers this year and merits his place in the side.
Belgian rider, Ghyllebert has shown his versatility in his introductory season for the An Post side and has been a regular fixture in team line up’s since the start of the season. McNally, on the other hand, has proven his form of late and he will seek to become the second British rider in succession to win the Rás.
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| Mark McNally Team An Post |
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts explained the thinking behind his team selection. “I have picked a really strong all round line up, as the overall aim of the team this year is to compete in every category; Overall Classification, Young Rider, King of the Mountains, as well as for Stage wins.”
“I didn’t want to put an emphasis on any rider or goal in particular; rather I have chosen a team who will work hard for each other. I feel very confident coming into this year’s Rás, we have been training very hard with this race in mind, so I’m upbeat about our chances of repeating the podium successes of ’08 and ’09.”
Former world number one cyclist and Academy supremo Sean Kelly is also expecting a good showing from his young team. “The Rás is a race we specifically target every year, it is on home turf in front our sponsor’s and fans so we really want to perform. We have a bunch of talented young riders in the academy so this is a big chance for them to show how good they are.”
Meathman Mark Cassidy, who will be starting the Rás in his hometown of Dunboyne, is looking forward to getting the tour underway in front of his family.
“This season has been great from a personal point of view, I really feel like I have pushed on and I think my performances have been very consistent, which has allowed me to get a good run in the team“.
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| Pieter Gyhllebert Team An Post |
“I’m really looking forward to starting the Rás in Dunboyne, in front of my family and friends. The Rás is a special race for my family, with my dad winning it a couple of times and goal of mine is to join him on that (winners) list. It’s a route that I’m really familiar with at this stage so I can’t wait for the action to get underway.”
Speaking of Cassidy, team manager Kurt Bogaerts, “Mark is in good shape coming into the race, and has been riding well this season. It’s up to him replicate that form over the eight days and show everyone what he is capable of doing.”
This year’s FBD Insurance RÁS 8 Day International Cycle Race, which will take place from 23rd to 30th May, will see at least ten countries represented and the emphasis will be on national, regional and top level sponsored amateur cycling teams.
This year the ‘boys in green’ will travel 1240 kilometres from Dunboyne to the finish in Skerries, Dublin. For more information on routes and how to follow the An Post team log onto www.anpost.ie/cycling or www.facebook.com/anpostcycling
An Post Sean Kelly Team - FBD Insurance Rás (Uci 2.2)
Mark Cassidy (IRL)
David O’Loughlin (IRL)
Connor McConvey (IRL)
Pieter Gyhllebert (BEL)
Mark McNally (UK)
