With the countdown now very much on to Rás Tailteann 2024, the race organisers have announced more teams coming from abroad to spearhead the foreign challenge. In the mix will be three squads from the UK and a team from China.
Many of the UK riders are already well versed in the rhythm of Irish road racing, having competed here in recent years and scored significant successes along the way. However, others from Britain will be new to the Irish event and will be an unknow quantity for the home riders with designs on yellow and stage wins.
Last year, Richardsons Trek DAS claimed the opening stage, via Conor McGoldrick, and then held the yellow jersey all the way trough the race until overpowered by Dillon Corkery and Team Ireland at the death.
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The UK team is back for more this year, and with a former Team Sky rider in their ranks. McGoldrick is also returning to Ireland, with a strong team around him hoping to help him take the overall victory.
“This year we will be looking to see if Conor can improve on his 2023 overall result, particularly as the race has a strong family relevance," said manager Andy Lyons, who confirmed former Team Sky man Alex Peters would be in the line-up.
"Both of (McGoldrick's) parents hail from Dublin and his grandparents will be proudly out at roadside to watch him race on Irish roads," he said of their team leader, who was 3rd overall last year and also won the climbers' classification.
Team Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli will also be making the return trip for the Rás this year following a very successful debut last season.
"We came away with two stage wins, the points jersey, the best team overall on GC, and a rider less than 10 seconds off the final general classification podium," said team manager Stuart Reid, with Matthew Fox the man on target twice in 2023.
"After returning from last year's Rás, we went on to finish 2nd team overall in the British National Road Series and 1st team overall in the British National Circuit Series, including two wins.
“We will return to this year’s Rás after a number of National B road races, in which we have had two wins already, along with the first two rounds of the National Road Series - the East Cleveland Classic and the Lincoln GP, as well as the UCI CiCLE Classic.”
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The third British team already confirmed for the Rás is Foran Cycling Team, which has raced regularly in a series of Irish events in recent seasons and always mounts a very strong challenge.
The team was established in 2019 by Tom Quaid and Paul Lavelle, the directors of Foran Construction, and is comprised of working men who balance their jobs with high performance racing in the UK scene.
“Last year was a big step up for Foran, and we posed a real GC threat," said Quaid. "Sadly, we couldn’t pull it off, but it ignited the desire of our riders to put themself in the best position ahead of selection and this has boosted the strength of the team."
Lavelle added: "After banking even more mileage over winter around full-time jobs, we hope to play a major role in the race, with results on stages and for the overall GC.”
Two of their riders who will be closely watched - after top performances in both the Rás and Rás Mumhan - will be Tom Martin and Dom Jackson who, with their team mates, should prove a handful.
All the way from China comes Team Bodywrap, managed by Simon Cope, who previously worked for British Cycling, Team Sky and Team Wiggins as well as having three Rás stage wins in his palmares.
The Bodywrap team was established as a vehicle to prepare its riders for the China Games next year and will come to Ireland after taking in UCI-ranked racing in China.
“The team's aim is to gain as much experience outside of the Chinese domestic cycling calendar,” said Cope.“The riders can’t wait to see what elite European racing has to offer”.
Race director, Ger Campbell, said he was especially pleased to have a team coming from China for the Rás.
“We are delighted to welcome Team Bodywrap to this year's race. Each and every year, the interest from international teams grows, and we are really excited to see top talent from China taking on the Irish roads."
