Following
in from last week’s announcement of the first international squad for this
year’s An Post Rás, the Canadia national team, the race organisers have now
confirmed that the strong Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha lineup will return to
this year’s event.
 |
| Thomas Okrouhlicky AC Sparta Praha |
One
year ago Martin Hunal finished an excellent third overall in the race, ending
the eight day contest just seventeen seconds behind the overall winner Nicolas
Baldo. He was also second on stage five into Buncrana, and second in the
One4All Bikes4Work King of the Mountains classification.
Fired
up by those near misses, 23 year old Hunal will travel to Ireland this year
determined to clock up some victories.
He
will share leadership with 27 year old Tomas Okrouhlicky, who was third in the
national time trial championships two years ago, and who could also challenge
in the An Post Rás.
The
duo will be backed by three others; Rostislav Krotky will return to the race
after supporting Hunal last year and picking up seventh on stage seven to
Cootehill. Tomas Medek and 2010 Czech Cup in Plzen winner Jan Klabouch will
also take part, and will be keen to show their strength.
“Martin
Hunal or Tomas Okrouhlicky will lead the team and will have the goal of going
for the podium,” said team manager Zdenek Rubas. “Before the An Post Rás, we
will do three Czech Cup races in preparation, as well as the GP Herning in
Denmark, the Tour de Bern in the Czech Republic and about fifteen other races.”
Apart
from competing in 2012, the team also took part in the 2007 edition and clocked
up several top ten finishes on stages.
 |
| Jan Klabouck AC Sparta Praha |
An
Post Rás race director Tony Campbell is looking forward to seeing how they
perform this year. “The team rode very strongly last time round and with Martin
Hunal going so close to success on a stage, in the mountains classification and
the overall standings, he’s going to be very determined starting the race. He’s
also a year older and more experienced, and looks set to be one of the top
contenders.
“The
rest of the team looks very solid and I think the AC Sparta Praha riders will
have a very big effect on this year’s race.”
The
2013 An Post Rás will begin in Dunboyne on Sunday 19th May, the fourth
consecutive year it has started there. It will then move counter-clockwise
around the country, and includes stage finishes in Longford, Nenagh, Listowel,
Killarney, Glengarriff, Mitchelstown, Carlow and Naas, before concluding on
Sunday 26th May with the customary finale in Skerries, North County Dublin.
The
race will feature 33 categorised climbs, of which four are category one
mountains and twelve are category two ascents.
For more information contact.
Tony
Campbell tonycampbell@anpostras.com
Eddie
Dawson eddiedawson@anpostras.com
