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2013
Bogaerts has
unveiled the names of six riders to start this year’s Rás with that list to be
reduced to five on Monday. The team has been very successful in the past,
including taking overall victories with Stephen Gallagher in 2008 and Gediminas
Bagdonas in 2011, as well as numerous stage wins. The race is always a major
target for the team and this will again be the case this year. Three Irish
riders are in that provisional line up and barring any last minute
complications, all will take part. They are Sean Downey, Sam Bennett and Ronan
McLaughlin, with the other three being the Briton Mark McNally, the New Zealand
rider Shane Archbold and the Belgian Nicolas Vereecken. “We will
make the final selection based on the outcome of the Rund um Koln in Germany on
Sunday,” Bogaerts says. “Normally the three Irish riders will be part of the
squad, though. Sean Downey is coming into shape, finishing fifth in the Circuit
de Wallonie on Sunday. That finished on a really steep climb like Seskin Hill
and you cannot hide on a course like that, you need really good legs. So I’m
pleased with his form. “Sam Bennett
had a tough start to the season as he had an operation on his knee in the
winter, but he has been making progress. He was sick a couple of weeks ago but
is now healthy again. He has been training a lot and also going to the gym, and
I see him as our sprinter for the flat stages. “Ronan McLaughlin
had a really good start of the season. He is really preparing well for the An
Post Rás. He is missing a bit of race rhythm because he trained a lot, but his
form should be going up.” McLaughlin
will be fired up to perform in the race, particularly after a superb solo break
last year which fell just 200 metres short of earning him a stage win into
Bundoran. Bennett was second on the final stage into Skerries and previously
won a stage in the race in 2009 at just 18 years of age. As for
Downey, he was eleventh in the race two years ago and placed third in the Irish
Sports Council under 23 classification. “Nicolas,
the Belgian guy, he has been one of my strongest riders all season, he rides
very consistently. He is a good climber, a good sprinter. A real all-rounder.” As has been
the case in other years, Bogaerts will initially take the race day by day,
while also keeping the bigger picture in mind. “We don’t have any one rider who
stands out as a big contender for the overall, but each of the five guys are
capable of winning the general if things play out right. “I think the
team is more suited to taking stage wins, but I wouldn’t rule the overall out.
The best approach is that we will concentrate on stages and on trying to be on
the podium as much as possible. The general classification could then take care
of itself after that.” An Post Rás
race director Tony Campbell is keen to see how the team performs. “The An Post
riders always give everything to ride well, and have had some very good results
in the past with two overall victories and numerous stages. We know they will
be highly motivated to ride well, and they should have a very big effect on the
overall and stage results.” Campbell has
his eye on the general classification battle, but also on the county rider and
county team awards. This year’s race will have eighteen Irish domestic teams
taking part and they too will have an effect on the pattern of racing. For
Campbell, those amateur riders are as much part of the spirit of the An Post
Rás as the bigger international squads. “The county riders are very important
to the race,” says Campbell, “and it is great each year to see the commitment
they put in during the An Post Rás. Whether they are going up against the
professionals to try to take a stage win or a high overall placing, are
fighting it out for the county rider or county team classifications or are
digging deep to complete the race and become a Man of the Rás, they are a very
important part of the race.” Last week’s
Tour of Ulster points to some of those who should be in form. Joe Fenlon won
overall and will be part of a strong Cork Aqua Blue lineup, as will Ulster race
leader Tim Barry plus the earlier Rás Mumhan winner Damien Shaw. Tour of
Ulster runner-up Roger Aiken will lead the Louth Prague Charter team in the An
Post Rás and is a past stage winner. Also amongst
those taking part will be Tour of Ulster time trial victor Ian Richardson
(Dublin Central UCD) plus the overall classification third-placed finisher
Javan Nulty (Meath Dunboyne DID). For
more information contact: Tony Campbell www.anpostras.com Eddie Dawson www.anpostras.com 016690030 |
