Three Irish riders, who were present at the unveiling of the 2014 An Post Rás route this week, have all given a thumbs up to the layout of this year’s event, with each of them outlining their targets for the race.
Connor McConvey finished last year’s race second overall, deadlocked on time with the winner, Marcin Bialoblocki. The two were separated simply by accumulated stage placings. McConvey said at the launch that the efforts to lead out a Synergy Baku team-mate on stage one saw him finish back in 42nd position, a placing he feels ultimately cost him the race.
He is seen as a rider who could win this year's event and said that the route will favour strong, attentive riders. "It is almost always the same type of rider who wins it," he told The Irish Times.
“You need to be able to climb and ride in the crosswinds and all that, but the biggest thing you need to be is just active. To be conscious of what is going on and to be in every move. It is going to be an aggressive route. It is going to be a hard course, a real war of attrition, but then again it always is.”
This year's race will begin in Dunboyne on May 18th, will conclude just over 1,260 kilometres later in Skerries and will include 36 categorised climbs including the category one summit finish of Seskin Hill.
Stage four
Stage four to Cahirciveen will include no less than 10-ranked climbs. Roger Aiken, who was eighth overall last year, took the best county rider award and placed second on stage seven, said that he relished the route. "It goes into Co Kerry and the roads down there are always tough. I am really looking forward to it," he stated.
“There are 36 categorised climbs . . . I am sure there are a lot more that are not listed too. I like going up the hills, so I am a happy man.”
Ronan McLaughlin rode the race in the past while part of the An Post Chainreaction Seán Kelly team, going agonisingly close to winning a stage in 2012. He has left the Belgium-based squad and has reverted to amateur status. He plans to ride the race as part of a new Donegal team that he will mentor.
“I just missed out before, getting caught really close to the line after being away alone. It’s still a big ambition to try to take a stage win. I think the route is an exciting one.
“While I’ll be working full time this year, my goal now is to get myself into the same shape I was in on other seasons and then hope things work out well tactically.”
