Winning the Leinster Champs last year, Buggle returns from France for the Rás (Photo: Liam Ruth)
The Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes line up for the An Post Rás has been reworked, with U23 international Aaron Buggle and Waterford sprinter Robin Kelly coming in.
Team members Joe Fenlon, Michael Fitzgerald and Paidi O’Brien travelled to France last week with Tim Barry, Sean Lacey and guest rider Mark Dowling to ride the four-day Essor Breton in Lorient, Brittany, to prepare for the Rás
However, Fenlon crashed and Fitzgerald came down with illness and was forced to retire. Both riders and O’Brien will now not ride the Rás.
O’Brien’s absence was anticipated because of college exams and his name did not appear on the preliminary start list revealed by stickybottle in recent days.
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However, Fenlon and Fitzgerald were expected to ride and their names were on that provisional starting list. But team manager Philip Finnegan has said both riders now have other commitments meaning they cannot ride next week.
“We had to change the team round a bit as Paidi has exams and Joe Fenlon and Mick Fitzgerald have work commitments but it looks a strong team,” he said.
Buggle and Kelly now come into the five-man team to join Barry, Lacey and Mick O’Reilly.
Buggle, who is based in France, is coming back after an injury-hit season last year. He has regained selection for the Irish U23 Nations Cup team and will be looking to continue that road back to good form in the Rás.
Kelly said earlier in the year he was not interested in riding the Rás because he believed it was too hilly for him. However, he has been going well lately, winning in Corkagh Park last Saturday and finishing second to Adam Armstrong at the Coombes-Connor Memorial three weeks ago.
Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes Rás Team
- Tim Barry
- Aaron Buggle
- Sean Lacey
- Mick O'Reilly
- Robin Kelly
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