A two-time winner of Rás Tailteann, Philip Cassidy, will once again be associated with the race this year as he is lending his support with a sponsorship deal. Cassidy’s business, City Break Apartments, will sponsor the points classification and is one of a number of new backers who have been put in place to help fund the event in what is a comeback edition.
Rás winner in 1983 and 1999, and 1984 and 1988 Olympian, Cassidy said he was “delighted to be in a position to help Cáirde Rás Tailteann and put the iconic event back on the road” adding he “owes the Rás more than he could ever repay”.
As well as Cassidy’s company sponsoring the race, Bective Stud has also been unveiled as a new sponsor. The stud is based in Balgil, Navan, Co Meath, and is run by the Moran family. It will sponsor the county rider classification this year.
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Jayde Massey of Bective Stud said the company was very pleased to help Cáirde Rás Tailteann as it works to re-establish the race. It did not go ahead in 2019, due to lack of sponsorship, and was halted last year and in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“We are keenly aware of the efforts of this group has made in the last few years to put this event back on the road,” said Massey. “We at Bective Stud see many parallels with an Rás Tailteann and are proud to support its resurgence in 2022.”
Race director Ger Campbell, who is organising the event as part of the Cáirde Rás Tailteann group, said the collective support of the group of new backers was vital for the 2022 race.
“Cáirde Rás Tailteann is exceptionally happy that City Break Apartments have joined forces with us to support and sponsor the prestigious points classification, a competition that reflects consistency of individual stage performance every day of the event,” Campbell said.
He added that Bective Stud, which had undergone a rebuilding process since 2016, was another great fit for the Rás.
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“In some ways An Rás Tailteann 2022 shares a similar evolution with Bective Stud, both having surmounted multiple challenges in recent years in the pursuit of re-establishing themselves,” Campbell said. “Of course, Bective Stud also strives for and promotes similar sporting heritage and values, striving for excellence in equestrian sport in particular just as we endeavour to do in our sport.”
More teams announced
After it was confirmed earlier this week that the UCI Continental team Trinity Racing was riding the Rás this year - with Irish riders Kevin McCambridge and Matthew Devins in the line-up - several other overseas teams have now also been confirmed.
London Irish-Foran CC knows the Irish racing scene well as it has sent teams to a number of races in the Republic in recent seasons. Their line-up for the Rás is comprised of Thomas Quaid, Tobias Dahlhaus, Thomas Springbett, Joseph Murray and Monte Guerini. They all rode Kerry Group Rás Mumhan this year, where Guerini finished 3rd overall.
The Good Guys Racing team, which is based in New York, features Cormac Daly in its line-up; the former Manor West Tralee BC rider who won the A3 national road race title back in 2016. Kerry-based rider, and rowing Olympian, Cathal Moynihan is guesting with the team on the Rás. They are joined by Michael Tan, Vince Rhino and Will Hackman.
England Embark-Bikestrong will on also be on the Rás start line and has developed in recent seasons to ride the Tour Series in the UK as well as the British Cycling National Series. Its Rás team is comprised of Joe Rees, Sam Tillett, Jamieson Blain, Jesse Yates and James Alexander.
From Spain, the Brocar Ale team for the race will be Alvaro Sagrado Perez, Sergio Jimenez Duran, Nathan Kurensky, Louis David Sutton and Tom Finlay Martin. Kurensky is a South African-born rider whose family emigrated to Ireland. He has already represented Ireland in MTB but is now racing on the road in Spain.
Scotland’s Spokes Racing Team, which has sent junior line-ups to the Gorey Three Day, is now taking on the Rás. Their line-up is comprised of Lee Rosie, Jacob Smith, Craig Paterson, Daniel Kain and Cameron Brown; a team of first-year U23 riders
From the Netherlands, Wielervereniing West-Frisa Team is coming to the Rás and is well known in Ireland, especially at Rás Mumhan. The team - Tijs Dekker, Thomas Hartog, Jim Kes, Guillaume Visser and Stefan Appelman – is managed by Tino Haaknan, who raced in Ireland many times.
The Isle of Man team will be made up of Corrin Leeming, Niall Quiggin, Will Draper, Chris Kneen and James Harrison; the latter a 19-year-old former Junior Tour of Wales stage winner. England’s Spirit Racing team is also sending a squad to the Rás; George Kimber, Farley Barber, Frazier Carr, Josh Housley and Joe Hill. Barber was 2nd in the recent Galway Classic.
