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First Ever AustrianTeam Confirmed For FBD Insurance Rás
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| Hannes Grundliner KTM Junkers |
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| Jan Barta KTM Junkers |
One week after the Danish-registered Designa Křkken team was announced as heading to the race, another strong overseas squad has been confirmed as taking part in this year’s FBD Insurance Rás. The Continental (pro)-level Team Arbo KTM Junkers will line out in the prestigious 2.2-ranked Irish tour in May aiming for an impressive showing in the eight-day event.
The team will be led by the 24 year old Czech Jan Barta, a past national under 23 road race champion who took two victories in Austrian events last season. Also on the team are Michael Singer (22), a multiple Austrian road and track championship medallist, Robert Gaszmayr (24), Josef Kugler (24) plus Hannes Gründlinger (31) who previously competed for several seasons with the Elk Haus – Simplon team.
“Barta is our captain, and will play a big role in the general classification,” said the team in a statement. “Singer is a track rider in the national team of Austria, Gaszmayr is a team player with important functions in the race and Kugler has won the bronze medal in the military world championships with the Austrian National team 2006.” More>>>
Strong Danish Team Confirmed For FBD Insurance Rás
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| Mads Christensen |
With less than two months to go until the start of the race, the first team has been announced for the FBD Insurance Rás.
The strong Danish Continental (pro) squad Designa Křkken is heading to Ireland prior to the May 17th beginning of the race, and is expected to play a big part in the outcome of the event.
Mads Christensen (24) is one of the big guns on the Danish Designa Křkken squad, and will chase success in Ireland four years after he finished third behind Kanstantsin Siutsou (Belarus) and Thomas Dekker (Netherlands) in the world under 23 championship in Verona.
The other two riders have gone on to top pro careers with Team Columbia and Silence Lotto respectively; however, following seasons with the Quick Step and Barloworld squads, Christensen stopped cycling in mid-2007 and took a year off. He returned, remotivated, in 2008 and won two stages plus the overall classification of the U6 Cycle Tour Tidaholm in Sweden. More>>>
Race Rules & Regulations
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FBD Insurance Rás Race Officials 2009
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| Dermot Dignam Race Director |
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| Eddie Dawson Accommodation / Website |
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| Tony Campbell Route Director |
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Gruelling FBD Insurance Rás Route Puts Emphasis On Endurance
Some of cycling’s most exciting young riders will clash with experienced stage race competitors in the 57th edition of the FBD Insurance Rás, running from May 17th until May 24th this year. A tough, tactically-demanding route has today been unveiled by the organisers for the UCI 2.2-ranked event. It will be a serious test to endurance with three of those stages being longer than 175 kilometres.
Starting in Kilcullen and travelling clockwise through fifteen counties, the gruelling 1289 kilometre route will see the riders slug it out over twenty categorised climbs. Stages will finish in Wexford, Cobh, Cahirciveen, Killorglin, Scariff, Castlebar and Clara, while Skerries is once again the setting for the big finale of the race. Massive crowds are once again expected there, cheering on the international field after another gripping, suspense-filled eight days of racing.
“Stamina will win the 2009 FBD Insurance RÁS” claims Race Organiser Dermot Dignam “while the route includes something for everyone – the sprinters are catered for, the mountains are there for the climbers. But when the final accolade is presented in Skerries it’ll be to the rider with the greatest stamina. The long gruelling stages are where the valuable seconds will be gained and that’s where strength and ability will count most”. More>>>
Route Map And Stage Details FBD Insurance Rás 2009
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| Route Map And Stage Details |
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FBD Insurance Rás On International Calendar Again In 2009
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| Adrian Taheny Director Markrting & Sales FBD Insurance Plc. |
The FBD INSURANCE RÁS will once again play an important role in world cycling when it gets underway in a little over five months time, from the 17th to the 24th of May. For the ninth year in a row the big Irish 8 day international cycle race will feature on the world controlling body Union Cycliste Internationale’s prestigious Calendar of International Events. This entitles the race to award much sought after qualifying points for the world cycling championships which in 2009 will take place in Mendrisio in Switzerland.
The continued success of this internationally acclaimed event is due in no small measure to the financial backing by FBD Insurance. Now in its 26th year of sponsorship, one of the longest running sports sponsorship in the country, the race has developed into an important player on the world cycling stage. The FBD Insurance RÁS also receives funding from the Irish Sports Council. More>>>
"The Rás" By Jim Traynor
Jim Traynor's Book " The Rás" may be purchased on line directly from the publisher at:
http://www.choicepublishing.ie/index_files/jimtraynor.htm
It is also possible to purchase the book from Cycling Ireland Office. A phone call to arrange collection is necessary. Telephone 01- 8551522 More>>>
Book Launch " The Rás" By The Late Jim Traynor
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| Philip Cassidy, Adrian Taheny & Eanom Byrne At The Launch Of "The Rás" Book Bt The Late Jim Traynor |
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Book Launch "The Rás A Day By Day Diary Of Irelands Great Bike Race" By The Late Jim Traynor
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| "The Rás A Day By Day Diary Of Irelands Great Bike Race" |
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