Ras 2011

RobFowl

First teams confirmed as
Drapac Porsche (Aus)
New Zealand National squad (includes the track endurance squad)

Race Officials
http://www.anpostras.com/event/fbdras_754.shtml

RobFowl

The Los Angeles-based Wonderful Pistachios pro squad will travel from the US for the Sunday May 22nd start of the race, and is determined to ride well. Team director Josh Horowitz competed in the event ten years ago and said that he is very much looking forward to bringing his riders to the well-known contest.

“In 2001, the Rás was my first international racing experience as a neo pro and to this day it is still my favourite stage race,” he enthused. “I really like this race for the Wonderful Pistachios team because our roster consists of strong, gritty riders who will excel at the kind of in-the-gutter, on-the-rivet riding that the Rás has to offer. I think they will bring a lot of energy and excitement to the race.”

The lineup is yet to be finalised but Horowitz names the two leaders of the team. “Tom Faiers raced the Pro Tour last year with Footon Cervetto and brings a wealth of talent and experience to the squad,” he said. “Neil Coleman is a two time UK national time trial champion and at 6'4" he can not be missed in the pack.”

RobFowl

Nice kit (I think)

ednwireland

how do they get the writing to stand up like that not very aero shurly

Idleater

RobFowl wrote: »

Nice kit

Now that would go with my new bike, they're sponsored by orbea too. Must investigate further...

DirkVoodoo

They sound like some hard nuts, here's hoping they don't crack under the pressue.

Sigh. Eye roll.

kenmc

Idleater wrote: »

Now that would go with my new bike, they're sponsored by orbea too. Must investigate further...

Mine too. Green and black is deadly

Lumen

Drapac seem like an interesting sort of team. They've been battling it out with Giant Kenda (and Ryan Sherlock) in the Tour of Taiwan.

ryan_sherlock

Lumen wrote: »

Drapac seem like an interesting sort of team. They've been battling it out with Giant Kenda (and Ryan Sherlock) in the Tour of Taiwan.

Yeah - Drapac were very strong from a stage perspective in Taiwan - big strong guys. Nice kit too!

RobFowl

The fourth international team for this year’s An Post Rás has been confirmed, with a strong pro squad travelling from Spain for the race.

The KTM-Murcia squad has been competing in some big events this year, including the Tour of Andalusia and the Tour of Murcia, and should be one of the strongest teams in the Irish event. It includes very experienced professionals, including some who have competed in cycling’s Grand Tours in the past.

KTM-Murcia joins the previously-confirmed Drapac Professional (Australia), Wonderful Pistachios (USA) and New Zealand teams in the lineup for the 2.2-ranked Irish tour

The squad for the An Post Rás is due to be led by the promising climber Marcos García, a 24 year old who has previously competed in the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. Last year he was second in the prestigious GP Llodio event in the Basque Country, as well as placing third in the Vuelta a La Rioja. He was also seventh in both the Subida al Naranco and the Tour of Slovenia.

Also set to travel to Ireland for the May 22nd start is Héctor González, who last year clocked up his first two victories as a pro when he won stages in the Tour de Beauce and the Tour de la Guadeloupe. The team will also bank on Oscar García-Casarrubios, who took the first stage of the Tour de Venezuela last year.

The other two riders who complete the KTM-Murcia squad are the sprinters Javier Benítez and José Antonio Carrasco. Benítez has clocked up 22 career wins and previously taken silver in the national elite road championships and a top ten finish on a stage of the Vuelta a España. He was third on stage three of the recent GP Costa Azul. Carrasco has a number of good finishes to his credit, including a top ten result in the prestigious Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen.

The team’s results suggest it will be one of the strongest squads, even if team manager José Antonio Ortuño chooses to play things down slightly. “It will be a very hard task to be fighting for the [overall] victory because it is a very demanding route, but we will try to do the best,” he said. “We will try to play our strengths in the climbs with Garcia, Gonzalez and Garcia-Casarrubios, and in the sprints with Carrasco and Benitez. We are very grateful to the organizers for inviting the KTM-Murcia team to the race.”

Race director Dermot Dignam has little doubt that the riders will be in the thick of the action. “The team’s line-up looks very promising and with some of the riders having competed in Grand Tours in the past, they will certainly have the endurance and strength needed for this eight-day event,” he said. “We believe they will be targeting stage victories and the overall classification.

“This is the fourth overseas team to be confirmed and shows that the line-up for 2011 is a very exciting one. We’ll be announcing more teams as the race approaches.”

The 2011 An Post Rás will begin in Dunboyne on Sunday May 22nd and will feature stage finishes in Portumna, Kilrush, Castleisland, Castletownbere, Blarney, Tramore, Kildare and Skerries. The tough route includes 29 categorised climbs, of which three are first category ascents, plus eight days of racing and a total of 1247 kilometres.

It is the first edition of this great race to be sponsored by An Post.

Or Log on to An Post Rás Website www.anpostras.com

michael196

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

They sound like some hard nuts, here's hoping they don't crack under the pressue.

Sigh. Eye roll.

but are they as hard underneath when u peel off the top layer ???:rolleyes::rolleyes:

RobFowl

Former world under 23 champion DmytroGrabovskyy is one of five riders provisionally scheduled to ride this year’s An Post Rás in the colours of the Ukraine- ISD-Lampre Continental team. The squad looks certain to be one of the strongest in the race, and will line out on May 22nd determined to ride aggressively from the off.

Grabovskyy is regarded as a real enigma in the sport, marking himself out as a big talent early on when he won multiple European championships on road and track. He then won the world under 23 road race in Madrid in 2005, beating Ireland’s Philip Deignan and others to the line.

Netting second overall in the 2006 Baby Giro and winning a stage sealed the interest of several pro teams and he began a trial with the Quick Step team, soon securing a two year deal.

However things didn’t run smoothly for the Ukrainian, who failed to perform and then had a rather anonymous first year in 2009 with the ISD team. He revealed in 2010 that he had been battling a drink addiction, and resolved to get his career back on track. Taking the mountains classification in Tirreno–Adriatico promised much, but a bad crash
hampered him once again.

He’s done little this season but if the 25 year old can find his focus again, his natural talent means that he could do very big things in the race.
However the team is not all about Grabovskyy. There are many other strong riders ready to chase results. OleksandrSheydyk has been one of the most successful riders on the team this year, netting second overall in the GP Sochi and placing fourth in the GP Donetsk. He’s continuing to ride well after a successful 2010, when he won a stage in the Tour des Pyrenees plus two in the Tour of Szeklerland in Romania.

YuiyAgarkov has also been doing well, winning the GP Donetsk, and is also scheduled to ride the An Post Rás.

The provisional lineup is completed byAnatoliyPakhtusov and MaksymVasyliev. Pakhtusov previously won a stage and finished third overall in the 2008 Giro della Valle d'Aosta, and was seventh overall in the 1.1-ranked Tartu GP. The latter placed fourth in this year’s GP Sochi.

“We are pleased to welcome the Ukraine – ISD Lampre team to the An Post Rás,” said race director Dermot Dignam. “They look like a very promising squad and with close links to the Farnese Vini-NeriSottoli team plus the top level Lampresquad, the riders have plenty of motivation to
chase big results here.”

They join a number of other international teams, with the Australian Drapac Professional team, the New Zealand national selection, the US-based Wonderful Pistachios squad, the Greek/Spanish KTM Murcia lineup, the German Thuringer Energie team and the French AVC Aix en Provence squad being confirmed in recent weeks.

The strong lineup will be further supplemented in the remaining month before the eight-day event starts.

The 2011 An Post Rás will begin in Dunboyne on Sunday May 22nd and will feature stage finishes in Portumna, Kilrush, Castleisland, Castletownbere, Blarney, Tramore, Kildare and Skerries. The tough route includes 29 categorised climbs, of which three are first category ascents, as well as a total of 1247 kilometres

Chips Lovell

Grabovskyy is a horse of a rider when he's on his day. Didn't realise he had a drink problem, which explains a lot. He seemed to have gotten it together again when he was with ISD Neri last year but he's faded since.

emtroche

The Italians are coming back! :rolleyes:

http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_5550.shtml

Wingman2010

I'm doing stage 6 of this event with a team from work!

I can't wait but it will be tough. The most I have done on a single day so far is 150k but I did this 2 day's in a row for a charity cycle so I should be ok. But I'm doing a lot of training the last few weeks so I'm hoping I'll be in good shape for it.

I have come a long way since last April/May last year when Gasco lead me home on a boards beginners spin

I'll keep an eye out for other boards spin as I'd love to join yee all on a spin some Saturday morning soon

garminguy

its like the course has been designed with me in mind!
it travels around with where i live in almst the exact centre of every stage except the last one.

RobFowl

Strong Irish representation in both squads

With just over a fortnight remaining before the start of Ireland’s most important cycling event, two very strong international teams have been unveiled for this year’s An Post Rás.

The Irish-sponsored, Belgian-registered An Post Sean Kelly team and the Taiwan-registered Giant Kenda squad will both be travelling to the prestigious eight day race, and will each have a strong Irish representation.

Although the An Post squad is yet to be finalised, the provisional lineup of eight riders – from which five will be selected – features four Irish competitors.

These are 2010 stage winner and King of the Mountains Mark Cassidy and Ronan McLaughlin, as well as the talented young duo Philip Lavery and Sam Bennett.

Bennett turned heads when he became one of the youngest stage winners ever in 2009, outsprinting some very strong riders into Clara at just 18 years of age. Lavery has gained a reputation for his aggressive style of racing and was crowned best young rider in last weekend’s Tour of Ulster.

The other riders in the run for participation are the Belgians Pieter Ghyllebert and Dries Hollanders, the Lituanian Geminidas Bagdonas and the Briton Mark McNally.

Team manager Kurt Bogaerts has previously seen his riders take stage victories plus the overall classification in the past, and will be ambitious once again.

“We want to do really well…it is the major goal for the team for the season,” he said. “We will try to go for the overall and stages. We have a young team this year so we can also go for the white jersey of best young rider. There are plenty of things to aim for; we will try to get the maximum.”

The other team confirmed is the Giant Kenda squad of former winner David McCann. He is one of Ireland’s most successful cyclists, having won national championships titles on multiple occasions, and also racing strongly in overseas competitions. He won the Rás in 2004 and has taken several stage victories in the race. This year he has been runner-up in two major Asian competitions, the Jelajah Malaysia and the Tour of Taiwan, and last Saturday he won the opening stage of the Tour of Ulster.

McCann will be joined by another Irish rider who rode well in that event, Martyn Irvine. He took the King of the Mountains prize in Ulster and is showing good road form after concentrating on track racing in recent months. The 25 year old took tenth in the omnium event at the Track World Championships, and he is hoping to qualify for the next Olympics.

The team is likely to be completed by the Scottish rider Alex Coutts, plus the Taiwanese duo of Chang Wei Kei and Wang Yin Chin.

Race director Dermot Dignam believes that both squads will add to the standard of the event. “There’s already been a very strong international field confirmed for the race, and the addition of the An Post Sean Kelly team plus the Giant Kenda squad will further boost the level,” he said. “In addition to that, both teams have strong Irish links and are guaranteed to attract support from the large crowds and interest from the media.”

Tackleberry

We dug out a few snaps from back in 2008 on the Saturday mountain stage to Roundwood, some nice action shots of familiar faces here

RobFowl

Quartet add to already impressive Rás line up

Fresh from a dominant showing in the Tour of Ulster, the Motorpoint cycling team is one of four British-registered teams heading to the An Post Rás with big ambitions.

The team will be led by Pete Williams, who was hugely impressive in Ulster. He won two stages plus the overall classification in the race, while his team-mate James Sampson was third on the general classification. They will be joined by Will Bjergfelt, MarcinBialoblocki and Tobyn Horton, who already has the experience of being part of a winning team on the race. Last year he competed with the Sprocket Pro Cycling team, helping team-mate Alexander Wetterhall to win overall.

Williams finished second overall then, 59 seconds back, and the team believes he can take the yellow jersey this time round. “Pete nearly won the race last year and we are coming back to try to take it this time,” said manager Chris Truett. “The team goals are to win the An Post Rás, as well as taking stage wins and the King of the Mountains jersey.”

Former race winner Simon Richardson will head a strong Sigma Sport – Specialized Cycling Team and will be a strong contender. He triumphed in 2009 and has the experience to do so again; he is joined by WouterSybrandy, Steve Lampier, James Williamson and Tom Copeland, and hopes to make a big push for success.
“This team is capable of winning the RAS and our primary objective will be to do just that,” said manager Matt Stephens. “Simon Richardson will be looking to take another title and will be ably backed by the whole team.“
“Wouter is a Dutch powerhouse who can climb with the best and isn't shy of attempting a lone break. He too may figure on the overall” he added.
Another team heading to the race with strong ambitions is the Rapha Condor Sharp team. General manager John Herety is hugely experienced and has guided his riders to overall success several times in the past; this time round, he is saying that they will primarily target stage wins, although he has stated that before, taking the pressure off, and things worked out even better.

The line up comprises the English riders Dean Downing and Ben Greenwood, Scottish rider James McCallum, as well as the Australians Dean Windsor and Casey Munro. “The plan is for stage victories this year, not looking at the GC, but it is the Rás and anything can happen!” Herety said.

What’s certain is that the team will ride aggressively and play an important part in the outcome of the event.

The fourth squad confirmed today is the Forme – Procycliste - Sanlamere setup. The team comprises Robert Orr, Dexter Gardias, Jack Adams, Will Fox and Sam Parker, and they too will ride aggressively throughout the eight days. According to Orr, stage results will be their target.

“As ever, the British teams will head to the race as big challengers,” said An Post Rás director Dermot Dignam. “There have been several winners from there in the past and with riders such as Pete Williams and Simon Richardson in the line up, as well as these four strong squads, strong attacking and good, tactical riding is guaranteed.”

The teams confirmed today join nine previously announced foreign squads. These are ISD Lampre (Ukraine), Drapac Professional team (Australia), New Zealand, Wonderful Pistachios (USA), KTM Murcia (Spain/Greece), Thuringer Energie (Germany), AVC Aix en Provence (France), Giant Kenda (Taiwan) and the Irish sponsored, Belgium-based An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team. The overseas line up is a formidable one and will ensure that this year’s race is one of the most competitive yet.

The 2011 An Post Rás begins in Dunboyne on Sunday May 22nd. It will feature stage finishes in Portumna, Kilrush, Castleisland, Castletownbere, Blarney, Tramore, Kildare and Skerries, and will cover a total distance of 1247 kilometres.

buffalo

Can't see any recent threads - less than a week away now!

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/lavery-left-out-as-an-post-sean-kelly-name-ras-team-138056-May2011/

Irish riders Sam Bennett, Mark Cassidy and Ronan McLaughlin will be joined by Briton Mark McNally and Lithuanian Gediminas Bagdonas for the eight-day event which begins in Dunboyne on Sunday.

Beasty

buffalo wrote: »

Can't see any recent threads

I can;)

Threads merged

Beasty

dewindygap

I see Fingal Co. Co. have been at work this week making repairs to the road surface on the hill to Ardgillan. Having the Rás finish in Skerries is better than having the Queen visit, assuming this is the reason for the repairs. My only reservation is that they seem to have omitted many rough spots on the climb.

RobFowl

From Ger Cromwell on Twitter

An Post Sean Kelly team for Rás: Mark Cassidy (IRL), Sam Bennett (IRL), Ronan McLaughlin (IRL), Mark McNally (UK) Gediminas Bagdonas (LTU)

Good looking line up, sorry Phil Lavery isn't there though.

RobFowl

Mix of youth and experience for Skoda Ireland team

18th May 2011. The Skoda Ireland team for the 2011 AN Post Rás was announced today. It will be led by experienced Rás campaigner Paul Griffin, while three U23 riders, Sean Downey, Felix English and Belgian based duo, Conor Dunne and Peter Hawkins complete the squad.
Performance Director Phil Leigh outlined the make up of the team. “Griffin will be the team captain, and as a recent stage winner in the tough Rás Munham in Kerry over Easter he is looking forward to passing on his vast knowledge of the Rás to the younger riders.”
“Apart from Griffin it is a young team that is still developing. We have three U23 riders and two of them, English and Dunne, are first year U23’s. English, who also rides the track, is a double stage winner from the Junior Tour of Ireland last year. While Dunne will be making his debut in Ireland” Leigh added.
Dunne, who is based in Belgium, gave a solid account of himself in the recent Nations Cup events (Tour of Flanders and ZLM Tour).
Leigh also hopes that two previous Rás riders will have a big say on this year’s race. “Sean Downey is another rider who acquitted himself well in Europe recently and is racing mainly in France this year. He rode his first Rás in 2009, and is keen to step up and have an impact on the race this year. Peter Hawkins, another previous Rás rider, has a number of top 10 finishes in Belgium to his name this year and was top 15 in the Lincoln GP last weekend.”
He then outlined the team’s objectives for this year’s race “Objectives for the race will include top 10’s and podium places along with opportunities to take leaders jerseys. For some of the younger riders it is their first major stage race and an ideal opportunity to learn to ride within a team environment. It is a strong field again this year but we are looking to leave our mark on the race”.
The team will be managed by ex Pro Neil Martin who is keen to see the riders learn and be competitive at this level.
ENDS
Skoda Ireland team for An Post Rás:

1. Paul Griffin
2. Peter Hawkins
3. Sean Downey
4. Felix English
5. Conor Dunne

BryanL

Must say I can't stand British riders flitting between the British and Irish systems depending on funding.
How are we developing Irish cycling by taking on British B riders until they are good enough to ride again for Britain?
Seems like cycling Ireland under British management is just developing British talent?
Bryan

Beasty

BryanL wrote: »

Must say I can't stand British riders flitting between the British and Irish systems depending on funding.
How are we developing Irish cycling by taking on British B riders until they are good enough to ride again for Britain?
Seems like cycling Ireland under British management is just developing British talent?
Bryan

This thread is about the Ras - start another one if you want to have a discussion about something like this, but it's off-topic for this thread

Thanks

Beasty

jdt101

http://www.anpostras.com/event/printer_771.shtml

BryanL

Is Ryan Sherlock not riding?

Inquitus

This is the latest Start List

It appears Ryan Sherlock is not riding based on this. Its dated 12th May.

RobFowl

Inquitus wrote: »

This is the latest Start List

It appears Ryan Sherlock is not riding based on this. Its dated 12th May.

I have heard (not from Ryan Sherlock I may add) that he is riding but guesting for another team.

There are a number of inaccuracies on this list BTW note Peter Hawkins is down for Sport active when he is now riding for Ireland. (That said provisional start list are always subject to change)

Inquitus

RobFowl wrote: »

I have heard (not from Ryan Sherlock I may add) that he is riding but guesting for another team.

There's a good few A.N. Others in the list, so that may well be the case.

ryan_sherlock

Yeah - I'm riding for SportActive.

Andy Roche will have a busy time - racing for two teams!

There is a bunch of inaccuracies in the list.

killalanerr

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

Yeah - I'm riding for SportActive.

are doing a blog this year

ednwireland

will it ever come back up here (donegal) ? i wonder

shaungil

ednwireland wrote: »

will it ever come back up here (donegal) ? i wonder

You can have the finish if you want am sick of marshalling it and never seeing the last day;)

ryan_sherlock

killalanerr wrote: »

are doing a blog this year

yeah - look out for me in the Irish Examiner too

RobFowl

Bit off topic but a result form the last stage 2004. A familiar name .....

http://www.cyclingarchives.com/ritfiche.php?ritid=10424#first

1 Malcolm Elliott (GBr) Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn 1.18.31
2 Kimmo Kananen (Fin) Scandinavia Bianchi Nordic
3 Paul Healion (Irl) Dublin Usher IRC
4 Mark Cavindish (GBr) Great Britain U23

ednwireland

RobFowl wrote: »

Bit off topic but a result form the last stage 2004. A familiar name .....

http://www.cyclingarchives.com/ritfiche.php?ritid=10424#first

even more offtopic last time i saw it (i think)

18-05-2003 1º stage Dublin - Roscrea 135
19-05-2003 2º stage Roscrea - Clifden 188
20-05-2003 3º stage Clifden - Ballina 145
21-05-2003 4º stage Ballina - Letterkenny 173
22-05-2003 5º stage Letterkenny - Buncrana 146
23-05-2003 6º stage Buncrana - Donegal 167
24-05-2003 7º stage Donegal - Oldcastle 180
25-05-2003 8º stage - Phoenix Park circuit

RobFowl

ednwireland wrote: »

will it ever come back up here (donegal) ? i wonder

Was there in 2007 as I recall.
AFAIK the organisers are always looking for volunteer race finish organisers

Quigs Snr

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

yeah - look out for me in the Irish Examiner too

Good they will have some original writing this year, unlike last year where they ripped complete paragraphs from my 2009 RAS coverage on the Comeragh site! Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery though I suppose.

Good luck Ryan. We'll give you a cheer down here in Waterford, the hill finish in Tramore is absolutely made for you.

PS: I am sure the competitors won't mind giving Donegal a miss for fear that they could end up on Mamore gap again. Here is a video of the cream of Irish Cycling enjoying the mamore gap in the 2007 RAS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUbd_MV8AEY

ednwireland

RobFowl wrote: »

Was there in 2007 as I recall.
AFAIK the organisers are always looking for volunteer race finish organisers

your right sligo to dungloe wonder what i did with the photos - horrible day

killalanerr

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

yeah - look out for me in the Irish Examiner too

good man ryan ,ill be taking the camera out i will put a few shots up here each day,it will keep me away from the night stages !!

ROK ON

Can't wait to see peleton go over the Healy Pass. Great punchy climb followed by stunning descent. 5 hairpins, gravel and sheep.
Hopefully they get some good crowds and great weather.

I see Home Ballyhoura is also racing. A boy de kiiiidddd as they say in Limerick.

mookie2007

RobFowl wrote: »

Bit off topic but a result form the last stage 2004. A familiar name .....

http://www.cyclingarchives.com/ritfiche.php?ritid=10424#first

1 Malcolm Elliott (GBr) Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn 1.18.31
2 Kimmo Kananen (Fin) Scandinavia Bianchi Nordic
3 Paul Healion (Irl) Dublin Usher IRC
4 Mark Cavindish (GBr) Great Britain U23

Familiar name alright - Paul Healion.

May he rest in peace

Junior

any coverage of this on tv ?

rockman15

Best of Luck to the UCD lads! Hope you give them a scare or 6!

ryan_sherlock

rockman15 wrote: »

Best of Luck to the UCD lads! Hope you give them a scare or 6!

As long as they are not crossing wheels with me!

RobFowl

mookie2007 wrote: »

Familiar name alright - Paul Healion.

May he rest in peace

@mookie2007 The 2009 RAS

shaungil

rockman15 wrote: »

Best of Luck to the UCD lads! Hope you give them a scare or 6!

Yeah good luck to the ahem students of UCD.

Good strong team for the lads this year. Anto has come on a lot and getting some great results. Apparently we in Swords are now officially their feeder club;)

ednwireland

Junior wrote: »

any coverage of this on tv ?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/sportontv.html

MONDAY 30 MAY

AN POST RÁS (W)
RTÉ Two - 8.00pm
Highlights of 2011 An Post Rás, the annual eight day stage cycling race which takes place around Ireland. This year's race gets underway in Dunboyne, Co. Meath. It will then move counter-clockwise around the country, and includes stage finishes in Portumna, Kilrush, Castleisland, Castletownbere, Blarney, Tramore and Kildare, before concluding with the finale in Skerries, North County Dublin. The route covers 1247 kilometres with 28 categorised climbs, three of which are first category ascents.

RobFowl

shaungil wrote: »

Yeah good luck to the ahem students of UCD.

Good strong team for the lads this year. Anto has come on a lot and getting some great results. Apparently we in Swords are now officially their feeder club;)

More like the last resort for the Swords cast offs :rolleyes: