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Irish Sports Council Supports FBD Insurance Rás
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| Bartlomiej Matysiak Poland |
Once again this year the Irish Sports Council’s financial support for the FBD Insurance RÁS will be acknowledged with the presentation each day of the Irish Sports Council White Jersey to the leading young rider in the Best Young Rider Classification.
One of the most coveted awards for young riders in any major tour the white jersey of Best Young Rider singles the winner out as having the potential to go all the way in the tough sport of professional and world cycling.Commenting on Irish Sports Council financial support for the race Chief Executive, John Treacy, said "I am pleased the Irish Sports Council is associated with the recognition of young talent in such a tough international event as the FBD Insurance RÁS." He also praised FBD Insurance for its continuing support for Irish sport.The final Irish Sports Council White Jersey of 2007 will be presented to the overall winner of the classification when the race finishes in Skerries on Sunday 27th May.
Eight days of gruelling racing will bring the field of 150 from at least ten countries to exciting stage finishes in Templemore, Loughrea, Sligo, Dungloe, Buncrana, Derry, Newcastle and a circuit finish in Skerries. The race will start for the first time ever in Naas. More>>>
Iran For FBD Insurance Rás
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| Mobin Bagherzadeghan Cycling Federation Of Iran |
Iran, for the first time ever, will field a team in this year’s FBD INSURANCE RÁS 8 Day International Cycle Race, which starts in a little over two weeks time.
Speaking from Iran, Ali Zangi Abadi, vice president of the Cycling Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, confirmed that an Iranian national team will be the line-up for the big Irish event.
Iran now joins up with previously-confirmed teams from the USA, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Denmark, Germany and Australia in the world-ranked Irish tour, which begins in Naas on the 20th of this month.
“We are absolutely delighted with the news that Iran has chosen the FBD INSURANCE RÁS as one of its target events for this year,” said race organiser Dermot Dignam this week. “It’s a huge tribute to the race and a sign of the growing popularity of the race throughout the world, it also gives Irish cycling a wonderful opportunity of establishing cycling links with such a vast and powerful nation”.
The Iranian team will be made up of riders Mahdi Fathi, Mohammad Rastad, Amir Shakeri, Mobin Bagherzadegan and Mahmoud Talei.
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Strong US Professional Teams Announced For FBD Insurance Rás
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| Dominique Rollin Canadian National Champion |
Two more top notch teams have been added to the impressive lineup of this year’s FBD Insurance Rás, with the announcement that Continental squads USA KodakGallery.com-Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and USA Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Pro Cycling will be competing in the race.
Both teams will travel to the 2.2 ranked Irish tour with high ambitions, and race director Dermot Dignam expects a strong showing.
“Last year the USA-TIAA CREF team went close to winning the event, with former world under 23 champion Danny Pate taking second in the closest-ever FBD Insurance Rás,” he said. “We believe that the KodakGallery.com-Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Pro Cycling teams will also be a major factor, and look forward to see their riders fighting for stage wins and the overall classification.
”The USA KodakGallery.com-Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. team will be led by three very experienced riders. Reigning Canadian national champion Dominique Rollin will take part, fresh from his successes in the Comcast Jacksonville Crit (NRC) and Jacksonville Road Race. More>>>
Strong Danish And Australian Teams Confirmed For FBD Insurance Rás
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| Benjamin Justesen Team Vision Bikes Denmark |
Just one month remains before the start of the FBD Insurance Rás and two more strong overseas Continental (pro) teams have been confirmed for the race.
Danish riders are making a return after several years’ absence with the entry of the Denmark-Team Vision Bikes squad. Managed by former CSC professional Jimmi Madsen, the lineup comprises Benjamin Justesen, Simon Lerbech, Michael Johansen, Mads Bugge Andersen and Thomas Bendixen.
“The team will be after stage victories,” said Madsen who, during his own career, rode the Tour of Italy and took bronze medals in the Olympic and world championship team pursuit. “Watch out for Michael Johansen in long breakaways, and Benjamin Justesen and Simon Lerbech in the hills and maybe even in the overall classification, if things go that way.”
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| Peter Herzig FRF Australia NSWIS |
Justesen is a strong climber and last month placed third in the King of the Mountains classification in the 1.2 Classic Loire Atlantique. He is also a good mountainbike rider, winning four out of the six stages plus the overall classification in the Danish mountainbike winter trophy series. The 27 year old clocks in at just 55 kilos in weight and Madsen feels he will be a contender for the Mountains jersey in the FBD Insurance Rás
22 year old Lerbech is also a strong climber, but despite his low body mass he is arguably the fastest finisher on the team.
The squad is completed by three experienced riders in their thirties. Madsen describes Johansen (33) as ‘the strongman of the team.’ He won the KCK-BCC race in 2005 and finished second last Sunday in the Danish season opener in Ringsted. More>>>
EstoniansTo Return In Search Of FBD Insurance Rás Success
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| Mart Ojavee, Team Kalev Chocolate Estonia |
Yet another strong overseas team has been confirmed for this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS, which begins in just over a month’s time in Naas.
The Continental (pro) team Kalev Chocolate are travelling to the race from Estonia, two years after making a good impression during the 2005 edition of the gruelling eight day race.
Then, team leader Sigvard Kukk took six top fifteen places en route to 11th overall, including placings of eighth, seventh and seventh on stages one, two and seven. His good form meant that team-mate Mart Ojavee was riding in his service during the event, but he nevertheless placed thirteenth on stage four.
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2000 Olympic Champion Heads Strong German Pro Squad for FBD Insurance Rás
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| Daniel Becke Olympic Champion & three times Tour de France rider |
Former Olympic gold medallist and three time Tour de France rider Daniel Becke will lead a highly promising Germany - Thûringer Energie squad in this year’s FBD Insurance Rás, which starts in Naas on Sunday May 20th.
Becke was part of the German squad which won the Olympic team pursuit in 2000. He is hugely experienced, having raced with the top-level Bianchi, Caisse d’Epargne-Iles Balears and Team Milram squads in recent seasons. He started the Tour de France in the years from 2003 to 2005, and took five top-20 placings on stages.
Becke moved to the German Continental team at the end of 2006 and will be mixing road and track competition during this year. He finished 11th in the individual pursuit at the world track championships in Majorca last Thursday
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Stage 1, Sunday 20th May 2007
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| Stage 1 Profile |
NAAS – TEMPLEMORE 158 KMS. More>>>
Stage 2, Monday 21st May
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| Stage 2 Profile |
TEMPLEMORE – LOUGHREA 147 KMS More>>>
Stage 3, Tuesday 22nd May
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| Stage 3 Profile |
LOUGHREA – SLIGO 171 KMS More>>>
Stage 4, Wednesday 23rd May
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| Stage 4 Profile |
SLIGO – DUNGLOE 138 KMS More>>>
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