Cold conditions greeted the riders in 2010 when Ulster’s Philip Lavery prevailed
Some of the strongest teams in Britain will be on the start line on Good Friday for the P&O Ferris Tour of the North.
The new team of former race winner Philip Lavery, NODE4 Giordana has confirmed its participation as has Peter Hawkins’ IG Sigma Sport and Felix English’s Rapha Condor Sharp.
While English is not expected to line out for his squad for the Easter centrepiece up North, Lavery and Hawkins are provisionally expected to ride for their respective teams.
Both have enjoyed a strong start to the season, with Hawkins taking two wins on home roads the weekend before last and Lavery taking his first win of 2012 last Saturday.
The three Continental UK squads won’t have it all their own way though, with a strong home line-up and also teams from Holland and Belgium set to spice it up this year.
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Last year’s winner and top ranked domestically based rider in 2011, Adam Armstrong has not entered meaning the title will definitely change hands this time around.
The international field of 100 riders will get the race underway on Good Friday with a 1.1km Hill Climb TT up Prince of Wales Drive at Stormont.
The first road stage unfolds on Saturday, with three categorised climbs on the 117km route that finishes on the top of the second category climb at Rathfriland. But before that tough finish the riders will take in Spelga Dam and the Santa’s Cottage climb at Rostrevor.
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The third stage on Easter Sunday sees the riders tackle 114kms in counties Derry and Tyrone, with two passages of the second category Lough Fea to be negotiated. The climb is crested for the second time some 40kms from the finish at Magherafelt.
On the fourth and final stage on Monday, the riders move to the Ballymena area for what looks like a challenging 113km route. There are three climbs in total – the second category Shane’s Hill after 20km, followed by the Munie Road second category ascent at the 50km mark before the first category Glenariff climb at the 90km point.
With the last climb on stage four being a first category and coming just over 20kms from the finish, the final day’s route around the North Antrim Coast will undoubtedly see some very hard racing.
P&O Ferries’ business development manager, Arthur Murphy said the company was delighted to again give its backing to such an established and exciting event.
“The event draws some of the biggest names in cycling from across Europe, the UK and Ireland. With 2012 being such an important year in the sporting calendar it is hoped that our continued support will go some way to encouraging new cyclists to the sport and maybe even produce more international riders for Ulster in the future”
Race director Anthony Mitchell and his team are also this year welcoming a new secondary sponsor, Powerhouse Custom Clothing. It will sponsor the U23 classification and will provide the leaders’ jerseys.
Further information: http://www.tourofthenorth.com/
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