Having denied Tom Pidcock the British national junior title last year when he took gold himself, teenager Louis Rose Davies is coming to the Rás. It will be very interesting to see how he gets on after such a strong season last year.
Canyon Eisberg, Saint Piran teams set for Rás ride
It may still be more than one month away but the first foreign teams to take on the Rás Tailteann have outlined their selections and plans for the race.
The first two international squads confirmed, Canyon Eisberg and Saint Piran, are bringing a mix of youth and experience to Ireland.
On the youthful end of the scale is Louis Rose Davies, the first-year U23 rider who won the British junior road race championships last year .
He beat Tom Pidcock for victory on the day; outgunning the multi world and European champion from a breakaway.
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Aside from Rose Davies there are also some very strong riders in both the Canyon Eisberg and Saint Piran teams.
Canyon Eisberg has Dexter Gardias, Max Stedman, Matt Nowell, Rory Townsend and Rose Davies.
Townsend (22) will have more motivation than most to do well as he has recently declared for Ireland and is chasing international selection.
He raced a couple of times in Ireland last year; placing 2nd at the Des Hanlon in Carlow and in Carrick-on-Suir on St Patrick’s Day.
He won the points classification at the Tour of Quanzhou Bay (2.2) last year and claimed the climbers classification in the Tour of Almaty (2.1).
In Almaty, Kazakhstan, he was riding against some WorldTour riders. The race was won overall by Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) from Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana).
Meanwhile, Townsend’s team mate for the Rás Stedman won the Tour of Quanzhou Bay last year and the team looks like a strong one.
Gardias rode the Rás last year when he was 4th on the opening stage and third in the climbers’ classification after eight days.
“The team’s objectives is to walk away from the race with as many stage wins as possible while going for a GC placing with either Max or Dexter,” said director Simon Holt.
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“We are looking to better our best GC placing in 2016 of ninth with James Gullen while under the name of Pedal Heaven.
“Rory is very keen to show himself in this race given he has recently changed his nationality to Irish. (He) could be a strong contender in the points competition.”
Before the Rás the team will ride Tour of Yorkshire and a number of races in Holland.
The Saint Piran team, which is also bound for the Rás, is a new outfit with some Irish interest, though based in Cornwall.
“It is pulling on our Celtic roots with sponsors from within the region, and has the aim of producing riders from this area,” explains team manager Steve Lampier of the squad and its Cornwall base.
“I see the Rás as major stepping stone in that ambition. Only one of our team members had the opportunity to race the Rás before, and in doing so has the advantage and knowledge of doing an eight day race.”
Joe Evans is the man in question, having ridden the Rás twice. He was 7th on stage four last year and placed 19th overall.
“He will be our leader and we are hoping to push him into the top ten,,” said Lampier of protected rider Evans.
“As for the two Cornish lads, Jake Alderman and Will Harper; both pack a fast finish. I will let them off the leash and see what they can do on Irish soil.
“I rode the race four times in my career, and to be able to pass on my knowledge from the race, and to see the race from the other side is a massive pleasure to me.”
Cameron Jeffers, a Northern Ireland rider and blogger, is also in the Rás team.
“He is keen to show the Irish public what he can do on and off the bike,” says Lampier, who added the fifth man for the Rás was yet to be confirmed.
The team will ride a number of races in the UK to prepare for the Irish stage race. On its agenda are the HSBC Chorley GP, Rutland Melton CiCLE Classic, Tour of Ulster and Lincoln GP.
Race director Eimear Dignam believes both Canyon Eisberg and Saint Piran can make an impact on the racing.
“There is a long history of British teams in the Rás Tailteann, and they have contributed to the aggressive racing each year,” she said.
“We anticipate the same in May, and look forward to seeing them in action.” The race gets underway on May 20th from Drogheda, Co Louth.
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