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Eeckhout Wins Opening Stage Of FBD Rás, Takes Race Lead
Former Belgian road race champion Niko Eeckhout got the Irish-registered An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team’s FBD Rás campaign off to the best possible start today when he won the opening stage of the race... More>>>
Highly Experienced Field Ready To Go For FBD Rás
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| Seán Downey Ireland |
Hailing this year’s foreign line-up as perhaps the most experienced to take part in the FBD RÁS, race organiser Dermot Dignam has said that it’s all systems go for a gripping edition of the round-Ireland tour, which begins in Kilcullen on Sunday.
“I think this has to be one of the highest, if not the highest, level of experience we’ve yet seen from overseas riders,” he enthused today. “The field includes former Tour de France yellow jersey and multiple stage winner Jaan Kirsipuu, another stage winner Leon Van Bon, former Olympic champion Luke Roberts, world championship gold medallist Chris Newton...the list goes on and on. There are some very strong international teams and also a very good level of Irish competitors. That, plus a varied and testing course, points to a great eight days of racing. We think it’s going to be particularly memorable edition, and that there will be a very worthy winner in Skerries on Sunday week.”
The nature of the race as an excellent way to develop young riders was underlined this week when Thomas Lovkvist, who had several high stage placings and won the best young rider award back in 2003, took the race leader’s jersey in the Giro d’Italia. The Columbia Highroad rider was third overall heading into Thursday’s stage and appears poised for his best-ever finish in a Grand Tour. More>>>
Launch Of FBD Insurance Rás 2009
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| Urban Monks, Ciaran Cassidy, Ireland Development Under 23 Squad, Adrian Taheny Director Marketing & Sales FBD Insurance Pcl. & Model Roberta Rowat |
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Strong British Pro Teams Boost FBD Insurance Rás Lineup
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| Double Winner Chris Newton Team Rapha Condor |
The international challenge in the FBD Insurance RÁS has been further boosted by the news that three powerful British Continental (Pro) Teams will be in the line-up when the big 8 day race gets underway from Kilcullen next Sunday. The teams include three former winners of the race, Chris Newton, Christian House and Andrew Roche.
Already pro teams registered in Australia, Denmark, Greece, Germany, China and Austria are in the line-up with Norway, Ireland, Ireland Development Squad and fifteen county teams completing the field.
Double FBD RÁS winner, past track world champion and former Olympic silver medallist Chris Newton will lead the Rapha Condor team in the race, which begins in just over a week’s time. The four other riders in the squad must also be considered as real threats for the general classification.
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| 2006 Winner Kriatian House Team Rapha Condor |
They include the 2006 champion Kristian House, past Australian road race champion Darren Lapthorne and Tom Southam, a former Barloworld professional who has twice finished second in the British road race championships. The team is completed by Simon Richardson, who impressed last year when he won stage five into Skibereen, and who also held the yellow jersey.
“This is what I consider to be the strongest team I’ve brought to the FBD Insurance RÁS,” said manager John Herety. “I don't expect many stage wins from the team as we have no out-and-out sprinter, but in those riders, I have 5 potential overall winners.”
That means the game plan will be different this time round. “In the past I have come with the intention of initially going for stages and only looking at the overall in the last couple of days. This year will be different and we will have our sights firmly set on the overall from day one. That said, while I will bring the strongest group of riders I have ever worked with, this coincides with what I believe to be the strongest ever field assembled for the RÁS...so we will have our work cut out.” More>>>
An Post Team Return Home Aiming To Deliver At FBD Insurance Rás
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| David O'Loughlin |
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| Paidi O'Brien |
The An Post Sean Kelly Team is back on home soil ahead of next week’s FBD Insurance Rás, which gets underway in Kilcullen, Co. Kildare next Sunday. Four of the five members of the Belgian based team have been confirmed, including two Irish riders, David O’Loughlin and Paidi O’Brien, but last year’s Rás champion Stephen Gallagher, will not be back to defend his title due to personal reasons.
World Track bronze medalist and recent Olympian David O’Loughlin, who will be competing in the Rás for the first time as part of the An Post team, will be joined by Irish compatriot Paidi O’Brien. The two Irish riders will be joined by Belgian duo Nicko Eeckhout and Benny De Schrooder, with one final team member to be confirmed on Monday.
“Defending champion Stephen Gallagher will not be part of our Rás team this year,” Manager Kurt Bogaerts confirmed. “Stephen will not compete due to personal reasons and we are disappointed as he won the race last year, so it would have been good for him to have the chance to defend his title as part of the An Post team. More>>>
Cycling Ireland Announces National Under 23 Development Squad For FBD Insurance Rás
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| Stephen Halpin Irish Development Squad |
With the May 17th start of the FBD Insurance Rás fast approaching, Cycling Ireland has confirmed the lineup of what is a solid Under 23 CI Development Team for the event.
Ciaran Cassidy, Stephen Halpin, Aaron Buggle, Adam Petri Armstrong and Urban Monks will take on a strong field of international and domestic competitors in the 2.2-ranked UCI event, one of the highlights of the Irish sporting calendar.
“This is a relatively young U23 Development Team,” said Cycling Ireland’s High Performance Director Phil Leigh. “I am expecting them to focus on selected stages, whilst gaining vital stage race experience against what is turning out to be a very strong field this year.
“The U23 Team have been selected on their performances over the early season and Easter stage race period. Ciaran Cassidy won the final stage of Ras Mumhan and finished an excellent sixth overall. Stephen Halpin rode strongly throughout the four days in Kerry for a fine eighth overall, while Urban Monks was in the key move on the final day and followed up with a win in the Peter Bidwell Memorial More>>>
Roesems To Lead Cinelli Fown Under Charge In FBD Rás
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| Bert Roesems Cinelli Doun Under Austrilia |
Former Belgian time trial champion Bert Roesems will lead the powerful Australian-registered Cinelli-Down Under pro team in this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS, which begins in just over two weeks time in Kilcullen.
The experienced 36 year old professional previously competed with ProTour team Silence-Lotto plus its forerunners Predictor-Lotto and Davitamon-Lotto, and has picked up some strong results during his pro career.
His list of wins include the Grand Prix de Denain, Halle – Ingooigem, Nokere Koerse, the overall classification of the Niedersachsen Rundfahrt as well as stages of the Tour de la Région Wallonne and the Circuit Franco-Belge. The strong time trialist has also finished second in both the Grand Prix des Nations and the Chrono des Herbiers, highlighting his excellent ability in races against the clock.
General manager Gilbert de Weerdt thinks that background will be greatly aid the team’s bid to land success in the FBD Insurance RÁS. “Bert Roesems has been in ProTour teams for several years and is now the team captain to learn the younger riders,” he stated. “With starts in all the big Tours and all the Classics, he has all the experience to guide the team during the race. More>>>
Another Tour De France Stage Winner Confirmed For FBD Rás
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| Leon Van Bon Tour de France Stage Winner |
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| Jaco Venter Trek Marco Polo |
Joining the previously-announced Jaan Kirsipuu, who will compete with the Norwegian Giant Veolia team, another multiple Tour de France stage winner is set to line out in this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS.
Leon Van Bon won Tour stages in 1998 and 2000 and also finished third in the 1997 world road race championships. The powerful Dutch rider will lead the Chinese-registered Trek Marco Polo team in the grueling Irish tour, which begins in just over two weeks time in Kilcullen.
“We expect to bring a young team of riders with Leon van Bon as a mentor,” said team manager Gudo Kramer. “It will be the start of our Euro-campaign, so will be exciting to see where we stand. We bring a pretty complete team to the Ras, with fast finishers and climbers, experience and talent."
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McCann Spearheads Irish National Selection In FBD Insurance Rás
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| David McCann Ireland Winner In 2004 |
Drawing on a blend of youth and experience, Cycling Ireland has confirmed what should be a strong national team for this year’s FBD Insurance Rás. The home challenge will be spearheaded by multiple national road race and time trial champion David McCann, who has taken a total of six stage victories in the race and was outright winner in 2004.
McCann is one of Ireland’s most experienced international competitors. His list of overseas successes include overall honours in the Tours of Korea, Milad du Nour and Indonesia, as well as stage victories in races such as the prestigious 2.HC-ranked Tour of Qinghai Lake. He finished fourth overall in that event last year.
The 36 year old Belfast man is currently in fifth place in another Asian stage race, the Jelajah Malaysia event, and is building form and confidence prior to what he hopes will be a victorious push in the FBD Insurance Rás. More>>>
Kirsipuu Set To Be Most Experienced FBD Rás Competitor
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| Jaan Kirsipuu Team Giant Veolia Norway |
Former Tour de France multiple stage winner and race leader Jaan Kirsipuu has been confirmed as leading the Norwegian Giant Veolia team in this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS. Aiming for at least one stage win the vastly experienced Kirsipuu will make a determined effort to add the FBD RÁS to his long list of victories.
The Estonian has had a hugely distinguished career, holding the Tour’s maillot jaune for six days one decade ago, netting stage wins in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004, and also nabbing a similar stage victory in the Vuelta a Espana in 1998.
Former Irish pro Mark Scanlon previously competed with the sprint specialist while on the Ag2r team and helped him to take that 2004 Tour stage victory.
The sprinter clocked up over 130 wins during a 14 year pro career and, although he officially retired from professional cycling in 2006, the 39 year old still competes successfully as an amateur. He was Estonian time trial champion in 2007 and is the reigning title holder for the road race. More>>>
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