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Wilkinson Grabs Stage And Yellow Jersey
Three weeks ago he won the East Midlands CiCLE Classic in Rutland, vanquishing the opposition on rough, farm-track roads. Today, British rider Ian Wilkinson (Halfords Bike Hut) redisplayed that toughness when... More>>>
FBD Insurance Rás 2009 - Stage 2 Results, Wexford to Cobh
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FBD Insurance Rás Stage 2 Wexford To Cobh
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| Ian Wilkinson Halfords Bike Hut Takes Stage Two Into Cobh And Also The Race Leaders Yellow Jersey |
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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>>>
FBD Insurance RAS 2009 - Stage 1 Results, Kilcullen to Wexford
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FBD Insurance Rás Stage 1 Kilcullen To Wexford
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| Niko Eeckhout An Post Sean Kelly Wins stage One Of The FBD Insurance Rás In Wexford |
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List Of Competitors FBD Insurance Rás 2009
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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>>>
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