The An Post-Sean Kelly team has named its five-man line up for the Rás, with last year’s overall winner Gediminas Bagdonas returning to lead the team with a strong group of Irish riders around him.
The other four riders are Conor McConvey, Ronan McLaughlin, Sam Bennett and Sean Downey.
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts said the team’s run of form and results in recent months made his selection difficult.
“Deciding on the team for this year’s Rás was not an easy task. It is a race in which all of the riders want to be involved in, but unfortunately I can only select five to compete”, Bogaerts said.
“I think experience will play a vital role in the outcome of this year’s Rás. Bennett and McLaughlin were both involved in Bagdonas’ overall win last year, while McConvey finished top U23 rider and 4th overall in 2010 and Sean Downey was the highest placed Irish rider last year.”
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“Ronan was delighted when he saw the Rás route this year as he trains regularly on the roads, so I’m sure that will be positive for us. A couple of years ago David O’Loughlin won a stage for the team near where he grew up so hopefully Ronan can do the same.”
“Bagdonas is returning as the champion so there will be a lot of expectation and pressure on us as a team to perform. It is a very difficult race to win and I’m sure with the quality of riders we face again this year it will be even harder to retain it, ” said Bogaerts.
More later.
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