Rás Route announced

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http://www.fbdinsuranceras.com/event/route.shtml

more fun for the boys.

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todays press release


SIX PROFESSIONAL TEAMS FOR FBD INSURANCE RÁS

The foreign threat to an Irish win in this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS, due to start in five weeks time, has increased dramatically with the news that six top professional teams will be in the line-up when the big international 8 day race gets underway from the GPO on Sunday 22nd May. In addition to a record number of six American amateur teams and squads from France and Germany race organiser, Dermot Dignam, has confirmed the inclusion of professional teams from Britain, continental Europe, North America and Scandinavia.

The addition of such a strong force of pro riders certainly ups the ante in an already highly competitive field and presents what may be an insurmountable challenge for the Irish riders trying to repeat David McCann’s great win in the race last year. It is only when the necessary paperwork allowing the pro teams compete in the race is finalised over the next week or so and details of the teams and riders are announced will the Irish, and the other nationalities, know the true extent of the task facing them in the last week of next month.

Meanwhile Cycling Ireland selectors are finalising the composition of the Irish team which is badly hit by so many of our top riders, such as last year’s winner, David McCann and 3rd best placed, David O’Loughlin, having signed pro contracts and are now unavailable for consideration. Ultimately the selectors may have to depend on less experienced, perhaps even on under 23 year old, riders to wear the green jersey, unless, of course, they are able to pull a few surprises.

The gruelling 8-day race will bring the riders 1100 kilometres in an anti-clockwise course with stage finishes in Emyvale, Tubbercurry, Lisdoonvarna, Templemore, Abbeyleix, Rathdrum and Wicklow and the final 40 kilometres on a short circuit in the Phoenix Park on Sunday 29th May.

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+++ Mark Scanlon for FBD Insurance RÁS +++

In a dramatic development over the weekend Cycling Ireland selectors secured the release of top Irish professional racing cyclist and Tour de France rider, Mark Scanlon, from his AG2R-Prévoyance team, to lead the Irish national team in the FBD Insurance RÁS which starts from Dublin in a little over four weeks time.

The Sligoman is a class rider, winner of the World Junior Championship in 1998, Irish senior champion in 2002 and 2003 and a solid performance as a debutant in last year’s Tour De France. He will add tremendous power to an Irish team facing an unprecedented number of professional teams and top American teams in Ireland’s 8 day international cycling showpiece.

Cycling Ireland selector, Martin O’Loughlin, paid tribute to AG2R-Prévoyance for releasing Scanlon and said “we are absolutely delighted, it has been on the cards since a doubt arose whether AG2R-Prévoyance would get a wild card entry to the Tour, Mark is returning to his best form after injury and we are expecting a star performance from him in the FBD Insurance RÁS”.

The experienced Kerry rider, Paul Griffin, will be Scanlon’s right-hand man while the other three riders on the team, Brian Keane, Paudi O’Brien and Conor Murphy, are part of Irish cycling’s up and coming batch of young riders. The manager is former RÁS rider Cian Lynch.

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bad news this one for the chances of an Irish victory with the big race only a week away.



from irishcycling.com
SCANLON OUT OF FBD INSURANCE RAS
By Shane Stokes
May 16, 2005,
Odds of an Irish victory in next week’s FBD Insurance Rás have dropped significantly with the news that the country’s top professional, Mark Scanlon, has been forced to withdraw from the eight day race.

Scanlon was due to line out alongside Stephen Gallagher, Paídi O’Brien, Conor Murphy and Brian Keane on the Irish national team at the race start this coming Sunday, but he has now been diagnosed with a virus and told to rest.

The Sligoman had struggled with injury earlier this year but then bounced back to win a stage of the Circuit des Ardennes in April. However his form dipped again after that victory, with recent tests showing evidence of illness.

Scanlon’s place will now be taken by John Dempsey, a Tipperary rider who has been in fine form in domestic races this year. He won the Ras Mumhan and also the opening stage of the recent Tour of Ulster.

Gallagher, who recent replaced Paul Griffin on the Irish team, and O’Brien are both based on the continent and so seem to have the best prospects of those on the five man squad. However, with Scanlon now out, the odds of the Irish team defending the Rás title they won last year with David McCann seem much less likely than before.

McCann and David O’Loughlin, first and third last year, have been forced to miss this year’s race due to commitments with their professional teams.