Irish team begin tough challenge

Cycling News : The Irish Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn/M Donnelly Sean Kelly squad began what is arguably their biggest race to date…

Cycling News: The Irish Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn/M Donnelly Sean Kelly squad began what is arguably their biggest race to date when they took part yesterday in the opening team time-trial in the Tour of Qatar.

The line-up for the squad at the 2.1-ranked event includes the Irishmen Páidí O'Brien, Stephen Gallagher, Paul Healion and Mark Cassidy.

All bar Cassidy finished 36 seconds behind the victorious Quick.Step team in the six- kilometre test.

They were 15th of the squads in the race.

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Steven de Jongh was first Quick.Step rider across the line and he consequently leads the race heading into today's second stage, a 135.5-kilometre stage from Al Wakra to the Qatar Olympic Committee HQ.

Shane Stokes

Shane Stokes

Shane Stokes is a contributor to The Irish Times writing about cycling