RAISING THE number of international teams confirmed thus far to 15, the organisers of the An Post Rás have announced that two Scandinavian and one African team will join the line-up for the 2012 edition.
The additions come just over two weeks before the start of the race in Dunboyne, and the number of first-time competitors ensures that this year’s race will a very unpredictable one.
The first of the two Continental-level teams from Northern Europe is the Denmark Blue Water Cycling squad, which will include former junior world track champion Lasse Norman Hansen. He finished third in the omnium event at this year’s track World Cup, four places ahead of Ireland’s Martyn Irvine. As a result both riders have qualified for this year’s Olympics.
Also part of the team is the experienced 34-year-old Jacob Nielsen, who was second in the world junior road race championships back in 1996.
Norway Oneco Mesterhus will feature Magnus Børresen, the 2010 Norwegian under-23 champion, plus 2012 Tour of Malta stage winner Andreas Landa.
“We go to Ireland with a goal to win stages and at least one jersey,” said team manager Lars Junker. “We have very good sprinters and climbers so we really want to get some of the jerseys.”
The third squad is the Moroccan national team, which will make history in being the first set-up from that country to ride the race. Its riders will include Adil Jelloul, winner last year of the UCI’s Africa Tour, 2011 Tour of Morocco winner Moussine Lahsaini, and double stage victor Tarik Chaoufi.
“There are some very strong riders amongst the three teams from Norway, Denmark and Morocco,” said An Post Rás race director Dermot Dignam.
“Together with the international teams already announced, I think they will present a very impressive line-up for this year’s race. There will be a very worthy final winner.”
Meanwhile, many of the Irish riders plus some of the British competitors who will target the race will continue their build-up in this weekend’s three-day Tour of Ulster.
It will commence tomorrow with an 88-mile race starting and finishing in Dungannon. There will be four stages in all, including a two-mile time trial on Sunday evening.
FIXTURES
Friday:Coalisland GP, starts from Derrytresk GAA Grounds at 7pm.
Saturday to Monday:Tour of Ulster, stage 1 begins at Dungannon Leisure Centre at 11.30am; Corkman 3 day, stage 1 starts 3pm from Kanturk, stage 1 of connected youth 3 day at 10am.
Sunday:Frank O'Rourke Memorial, Camross, Wexford. First races at 11am; Rás Loughguile, starts 12.45 from the Millenium Centre, Loughguile, Ballymoney. MadMac's 6 hour XC, Gortin Glens Forest Park, starts 11am. Youth mini-league, Corkagh Park, starts 10am.
