While the challenge from the domestic riders will be very strong in Kerry Group Rás Mumhan in two weeks, the foreign line-ups also look very good, including the winner of stage 4 last year Matt Higgins, above (Photo: Pat Doherty)
With just two weeks to go until the start of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, the strong foreign squads that will once again travel to Kerry for this year’s event have named some serious firepower in their respective line-ups.
Chief amongst those likely to challenge the best of Ireland’s home-grown talent is last year’s runner-up Harry Sweering of the West Frisia team from Holland.
Sweering came within five seconds of nicking the yellow jersey from Damian Shaw (Aquablue CC). This time he will have the backing of a very strong quintet of riders.
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The evergreen Tino Haakman returns to the race for the 11th time, while Sven Broekaart, Silvain Buis, Robert Jan-Mol and Ruben Dorren are all back again.
Between them they’ve won stages, the points jersey and been well up overall so it’s expected they’ll do likewise again this year.
Their fellow countrymen in the WV Noord Holand-Ruiter Daakapallen team are also no strangers to the race, but they’ll bring a mainly new-look team though led by 2012 winner Dennis Bakker who guest rode for the Killorglin Credit Union CC team last year.
He’ll be ably-assisted by Wim Botman, Loen Koch, Evert Van der Berg, Thijs Bleeker and Joury Ottenbros who make up the team’s academy.
A number of English teams are back for more including the FELT Colborne Hargroves outfit led by Matt Higgins who won last year’s final stage.
The team’s riders were in a number of the most decisive moves last year and they’ll come with even bigger ambitions this year with men to definitely challenge for the overall.
Robert Ward, John Heaton Armstrong and Simon Holt - ex-Rapha and Raleigh - can all do serious damage and they’ll be supported by Andrew Hargroves and Justin Hoy.
Among three other British teams confirmed is BH Solidor with Tom Stockdale who was fourth in 2012 and ninth last year, Nic Noble, Alex Royle, Conor Ryan, Bev Humphreys, and Owen James; making up their team of U23 riders.
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Casco Europe Surrey are also back again and bring Chris McNamara who was fifth overall in 2012, Woulter Sybrandy – formerly of IG Sigma Sport - Richard Carland, Roger Smith, Rob Sharland and Simon McNamara.
The Isle of Man team are yet to name their six-man selection but it’s assumed they’ll be led by the indomitable Andy Roche who will also be back in May to ride the An Post Rás along with Ciarán Power’s band of comeback men.
Launching the race, Kerry Group corporate affairs director Frank Hayes said the scene was set for an exciting showdown.
“The introduction of the new ‘teams only’ requirement for the Race has created huge interest,” he said.
“With 200 riders taking part from all over Europe, spectators will be treated to the very best of cycling over the four days of a very tough and exciting race.
“Now firmly established as the top domestic stage race on the cycle racing calendar, the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan is a credit to the organising committee and all the volunteers who work tirelessly to put this race on the roads of Cork and Kerry.”
Meanwhile, Killorglin Cycling Club regrets to announce that the A4 and youth races scheduled for Waterville on Sunday, April 20th have been cancelled.
It said that following a review of the route risk evaluation and the personnel and other requirements it was decided the club could not promote the events to the standard it had hoped for.
“We apologise for any inconvenience our decision may cause to other Cycling Ireland members but as safety is our prime consideration when preparing for an event we are left with no choice but to cancel,” it said in a statement.
“Killorglin Cycling Club has requested Cycling Ireland to remove the event from the calendar of road racing events.”
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