Much of the action is on unpaved roads (Photo: Larry Hickmott/velouk.net)
Three Irish riders now competing with British Continental teams get the Premier Calendar underway in Britain tomorrow, Sunday, with what looks like a very challenging Maldon Dengie Tour in Essex.
Philip Lavery, Stephen Halpin and Felix English will face a flat route over the 99 mile race. However, with much of the racing taking place on unpaved lanes, all four Irish riders face a tough day in the saddle in the race known in the UK as the “Hell of the East”.
Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport) was down to ride but has decided not to.
Based around the Dengie Marshes, east of Maldon in Essex, the race is included in the Premier Calendar for the first time this year. However, it has attracted very good fields in its brief history.
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Last year’s event saw a Rapha Condor-Sharp 1-2 by Zak Dempster and Graham Briggs, with former Paris Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt (Team UK Youth) in third.
There were just 22 listed finishers last year, underlining the challenge ahead tomorrow.
The three Irish riders taking to the start line this time around are all in the first months of their tenures with their UK teams and all will be looking to hit the ground running on the big stage.
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Philip Lavery is now riding with NODE 4 Giordana and has already tasted victory on Irish roads this year, not to mention winning the Roy Thame Cup in Buckinghamshire three weeks ago.
The Dubliner appeared to recapture his form late in 2011 after an illness-hit season. Having carried those legs into the current campaign, he will be looking to put them to good use tomorrow.
Stephen Halpin is another rider who has faced illness in his recent development as a rider and after a difficult couple of years he has landed a contract with Metaltek SCOTT and has already won twice in Ireland this season.
Tomorrow’s race is his first big encounter of 2012 and he tells stickybottle he’s very much looking forward to it.
Last of the three, but by no means least, is new Rapha Condor-Sharp rider Felix English, who already has the Tour of Taiwan in his legs.
Like the other Irish in action tomorrow, he has also shown good form already this season – a top ten in the Eddie Soens and also in the opening stage in Taiwan – and will be looking for a good ride tomorrow.
Best of luck to all.
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