CYCLING:The organisers of the new Tour of Ireland have said that they are confident of attracting a strong line-up for the five-day race, which will fill the gap left when the final Nissan Classic took place back in 1992, writes Shane Stokes
Some of the world's top teams and riders are expected to take part in the world-ranked event, unveiled this week and due to run from August 22nd-26th. Backed by Fáilte Ireland with support from BMW, Tipperary Water and others, it will include stage finishes in Cork (including two laps of St Patrick's Hill), Killarney, Ennis, Galway and Dublin.
Project director Darach McQuaid says there will be a strong field. It is believed several big teams have already committed to the event, including ProTour squads.
"Our target is to have, at the very minimum, 10 of the top 30 teams in the world," he said.
The race will feature considerable TV coverage at home and be televised as far afield as the US and Japan.
In other big stage race news, the organisers of the FBD Insurance Rás have confirmed that Iran will field its first team in the eight-day event.
"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 event and a sign of the growing popularity of the race throughout the world."
The race begins in Naas in just over two weeks.
Irish riders will have the chance to test their form in this weekend's Tour of Ulster. A strong domestic line-up has been confirmed for the three-day race, which begins tomorrow with an 87-mile stage starting and finishing in Omagh.
Meanwhile, other categories are catered for in the Corkman Three-Day in Kanturk this weekend. Youth races will serve as the final qualifier for the European Youth Olympics squad.
