Quartet add to already impressive Rás line up

Woulter Sybrandy, Sigmasport

Fresh from a dominant showing in the Tour of Ulster, the Motorpoint cycling team is one of four British-registered teams heading to the An Post Rás with big ambitions.

The team will be led by Pete Williams, who was hugely impressive in Ulster. He won two stages plus the overall classification in the race, while his team-mate James Sampson was third on the general classification. They will be joined by Will Bjergfelt, Marcin Bialoblocki and Tobyn Horton, who already has the experience of being part of a winning team on the race. Last year he competed with the Sprocket Pro Cycling team, helping team-mate Alexander Wetterhall to win overall.

Williams finished second overall then, 59 seconds back, and the team believes he can take the yellow jersey this time round. “Pete nearly won the race last year and we are coming back to try to take it this time,” said manager Chris Truett. “The team goals are to win the An Post Rás, as well as taking stage wins and the King of the Mountains jersey.”

Former race winner Simon Richardson will head a strong Sigma Sport – Specialized Cycling Team and will be a strong contender. He triumphed in 2009 and has the experience to do so again; he is joined by Wouter Sybrandy, Steve Lampier, James Williamson and Tom Copeland, and hopes to make a big push for success.

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Dean Downing, Rapha Condor Sharp

This team is capable of winning the RAS and our primary objective will be to do just that,” said manager Matt Stephens. “Simon Richardson will be looking to take another title and will be ably backed by the whole team.“

“Wouter is a Dutch powerhouse who can climb with the best and isn't shy of attempting a lone break. He too may figure on the overall” he added.

Another team heading to the race with strong ambitions is the Rapha Condor Sharp team. General manager John Herety is hugely experienced and has guided his riders to overall success several times in the past; this time round, he is saying that they will primarily target stage wins, although he has stated that before, taking the pressure off, and things worked out even better.

The line up comprises the English riders Dean Downing and Ben Greenwood, Scottish rider James McCallum, as well as the Australians Dean Windsor and Casey Munro. “The plan is for stage victories this year, not looking at the GC, but it is the Rás and anything can happen!” Herety said.

What’s certain is that the team will ride aggressively and play an important part in the outcome of the event.

The fourth squad confirmed today is the Forme – Procycliste - Sanlamere setup. The team comprises Robert Orr, Dexter Gardias, Jack Adams, Will Fox and Sam Parker, and they too will ride aggressively throughout the eight days. According to Orr, stage results will be their target.

Robert Orr, Forme Procycliste

“As ever, the British teams will head to the race as big challengers,” said An Post Rás director Dermot Dignam. “There have been several winners from there in the past and with riders such as Pete Williams and Simon Richardson in the line up, as well as these four strong squads, strong attacking and good, tactical riding is guaranteed.”

The teams confirmed today join nine previously announced foreign squads. These are ISD Lampre (Ukraine), Drapac Professional team (Australia), New Zealand, Wonderful Pistachios (USA), KTM Murcia (Spain/Greece), Thuringer Energie (Germany), AVC Aix en Provence (France), Giant Kenda (Taiwan) and the Irish sponsored, Belgium-based An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team. The overseas line up is a formidable one and will ensure that this year’s race is one of the most competitive yet.

The 2011 An Post Rás begins in Dunboyne on Sunday May 22nd. It will feature stage finishes in Portumna, Kilrush, Castleisland, Castletownbere, Blarney, Tramore, Kildare and Skerries, and will cover a total distance of 1247 kilometres.