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Denmark’s Nielsen Edges Gritty Opening Stage of 2017 An Post Rás
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| Nicolai Nielsen, Denmark Riwal Platform Cycling winner of Stage 1 Of the 2017 An Posr Rás. |
Danish rider Nicolai Nielsen (Denmark Riwal Platform) secured a hard fought opening stage victory on this year’s An Post Rás, narrowly leading a breakaway of three riders over the finish line in Longford town.
Dennis Bakker (Netherlands Delta Cycling Rotterdam) finished on Nielsen’s shoulder in second place, with An Post Chain Reaction’s Polish sprinter Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz taking third, just ahead of Thomas Rostollon (France Armee de Terre).
For the second consecutive year, the race rolled out from the historic surroundings of Dublin Castle. A total of 193 riders made the start list, making it the largest Rás field since 2005. More>>>
An Post Rás Starts On Sunday With Biggest Field For Twelve Years
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| The Big Bunch Rolling Along The Roads Of Ireland An Post Rás 2017 |
The An Post Rás rolls out of Dublin Castle on Sunday, beginning an eight day, 1200 kilometre battle over some of the toughest roads in Ireland which will feature the largest turnout in over a decade. A total of 195 riders will take part in the world-ranked event, making it the biggest field since 2005.
In total there will be 39 five-man teams. Thirteen of these are international squads, including the An Post Chain Reaction team.
The home competitors have signed up in their droves this year with a a promising Ireland national team and a staggering 25 Irish county teams. This is a solid increase in the number of home riders over recent years: with an average of 19 competing between 2012 and 2016.
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The "Battle" Mode Army De Terre In An Post Rás
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| Team Armee De Terre |
The Frech Army de Terre team will take the start of the 65th An Post RAS (Tour of Ireland) on Sunday in Dublin, on the lands of Stephen Roche, Sean Kelly or Sam Bennett. On this island where their president Mr Higgins is himself a poet, writer, everything is different, a far cry from what we can know, a simple back to basics.
Driving in Ireland is an odyssey that could have been narrating James Joyce, the famous writer of this Emerald Isle exile in France. There, on the land lulled by myths for thousands of years, everything is told in music, poem by tale.
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| Benjamin Thomas & Morgan Kneisky, Armee De Terre |
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An Post To Conclude Cycling Sponsorship
An Post will conclude its suite of cycling sponsorships including the An Post Rás, the An Post Chain Reaction Cycling Team and An Post Rás na mBan as the terms of each sponsorship expires this year. The Company stepped back from sponsorship of the Cycle Series at the end of 2016.
Aileen Mooney, Corporate Communications Manager An Post said:
“An Post has been the leading supporter of cycling in Ireland for a decade, providing long-term, committed sponsorship to Irish Cycling at all levels. We are very proud of what has been achieved by all involved and also by our staff through their involvement and support.
“The conclusion of these sponsorships comes at a time when An Post is facing significant financial challenges. As we set about implementing a new strategy for An Post, we must focus our resources on reshaping and restructuring our business, and on new product development. More>>>
Irish Team Named For An Post Rás
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| Eoin Morton Dublin UCD Fitz Cycles winning stage two of the 2016 An Post Rás in Charleville |
With just days left before Sunday’s start of the An Post Rás, a strong Irish national team has been unveiled for the race, forming a major component of the home challenge. Eoin Morton, Angus Fyffe, Mark Downey, Darragh O’Mahony and Jake Gray are the selection, with all riders under 23 bar 28 year-old Eoin Morton.
Morton was a memorable winner of stage two in last year’s An Post Rás and finished a fine third on stage five. This year, he won stage two and the overall classification of the Tour of the Ulster, as well as taking second on stage two of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan. As well as chasing his own results, he will have an important role as captaining the younger riders.
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Strong Carrick Wheelers Team To Fly Tipperary Flag In An Post Ras
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| John Dempsey, Panduit Tipperary. |
For the first time since 2013, Panduit Carrick Wheelers will be entering a full complement of riders into the An Post Ras.
The squad will consist of Jamie Blanchfield, Cathal Purcell, guest rider Philip Lavery, John Dempsey and Sean Yelverton.
The 65th edition of the race, which begins on Sunday 21st May, will feature stage finishes in Longford, Newport, Bundoran, Buncrana, Dungloe, Donegal, Ardee and Skerries. More>>>
McKenna, Shaw And Teggart Announced For An Post Rás
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| Damien Shaw, An Post Chainreaction |
Irish riders Sean McKenna, Damien Shaw and Matthew Teggart have been named in the five man An Post Chain Reaction Sean Kelly Team for the 65th edition of An Post Rás, which begins on Sunday 21st May.
The three Irish riders will be joined by in form Polish sprinter Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz and the experienced Regan Gough, who hails from New Zealand.
The team will go into this year’s race brimming with confidence following some recent impressive results and performances. Mullingar’s Shaw took the first professional victory of his career last month, soloing to victory on the opening stage at the Tour Loir Et Cher (2.2) while Kasperkiewicz secured a superb stage five win at the Tour de Bretagne (2.2).
The Rás is a key race in the calendar for the An Post team and manager, Kurt Bogaerts, believes the squad are peaking just at the right time: More>>>
Irelands Young Hope O'Loughlin Part Of Wiggins Team For An Post Rás
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| Michael O'Loughlin, Team Wiggins |
With the countdown to the 2017 An Post Rás now on the home stretch, a further two British teams have been confirmed; Team Wiggins and Madison-Genesis have both announced their entries, adding to the ten strong international squads already taking part.
Talented Irish under 23 rider Michael O’Loughlin will be part of the powerful Team Wiggins team for the event, joining the Britons Andy Tennant, Chris Latham, Joey Walker and Nathan Draper.
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| Richard Hanley,Madinson Genesis |
This will be O’Loughlin’s first An Post Rás and he has already illustrated his talent by finishing third in last year’s National Road Race Championship despite being in his first year as a senior rider. The performance earned him the national under 23 title. In 2015 he won a stage and finished second overall in the Nations Cup event Trophée Centre Morbihan.
Joining him will be Andy Tennant who won a stage of the Fleche du Sud in 2015 and has been part of the Great Britain track squad for many years. Chris Latham recently took a bronze medal in the scratch race at the Track World Championships, while Walker and Nathan are two promising second-year senior riders.
“The team will ride the Lincoln GP and the Ronde de l’Isard before the Rás,” states Team Wiggins manager Andrew McQuaid. “The road [how the Rás plays out] will then decide team More>>>
JLT Condor Team Return To An Post Rás
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| Ian Bibby |
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| Robert Jon McCarthy |
On the heels of last week’s announcement of the first British squads for this year’s An Post Rás, the race organisation has announced that one of that country’s most successful teams will be returning to the event.
The JLT Condor squad is managed by former pro John Herety, who has guided his riders to four overall Rás victories in the past 15 years.
The team will be led by Ian Bibby, who won stage six into Ballinamore in the 2015 An Post Rás and finished fourth overall one year earlier.
Bibby is in impressive form, having recently finished second overall in the Istarsko Proljece - Istrian Spring Trophy in Croatia.
The Englishman will be joined by James Gullen, Ed Laverack, Tom Moses and Irishman Robert-Jon McCarthy.
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Two British Squads Announced For 2017 An Post Rás
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| Marc Potts, Neon Velo England |
The addition of two British squads to the seven international teams already announced for this year’s An Post Rás makes the line-up even stronger, with just one month to go ahead of the race start in Dublin Castle.
Race director Tony Campbell has confirmed the return of the Neon Velo team and also the attendance of the Bike Canyon squad, both of whom have strong riders with past experience of the race.
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| Joe Fry, Bike Channel Canyon. |
The Neon Velo squad had an aggressive performance last year and one of its riders, Elliott Porter, showed strong climbing skills until he crashed out of the event.
Porter, the son of former professional Jaanus Kuum and double Olympian Maria Blowe is returning to this year’s team and will be joined by Mike Cuming, Jeremy Durin, Marc Potts and Will Bjergfelt.
“Elliott is an experienced racer,” said team manager Gabby Durrin. “He held the King of the Mountains jersey in the Tour of Korea in 2013 and will be riding the An Post Rás for the fourth time.” More>>>
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