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Last Updated: Mar 27th, 2008 - 21:33:47 |
Bulgaria for the first time ever will be represented in the FBD INSURANCE RÁS when the big 8 day international cycle race gets underway from Navan on Sunday 18th May. Georgi Stefanov, Manager of the powerful amateur Team Nessebar has confirmed his top five riders will take on the cream of Irish cycling and teams from at least seven other countries in a determined bid to place team captain, Georgi Georgiev, in number one position when the race finishes in Skerries on Sunday 25th May.
Race Organiser Dermot Dignam welcomed the news saying “I’m absolutely delighted that Bulgaria is to join France and Iran in the already declared bracket, Team Nessebar is a very strong amateur squad that will help to create a fiercely competitive environment between pro and amateur teams in this year’s race”
Along with the news that Bulgaria will be in the race it’s also confirmed that an additional Category 2 KOM climb, Barnageehy, will face the riders on Stage 5 Tralee to Skibbereen.
On the home front Dignam has confirmed Sunday 30th March as closing date for county team entries.
The Bulgarian team is Georgi Georgiev, Spas Gyuroy, Martin Grashev, Bogdan Stoychev and Stanislav Zaraliev.
22 year old Georgiev is the team captain and is likely to ride strongly in the race. He previously finished sixth in the 2.2 ranked Tour of Bulgaria and last year won a criterium in the Alexandria event in Greece.
Gyruov (21) is the current under 23 Bulgarian national champion and last year was second overall in Alexandria as well as taking a race win in Belgium. Grashev is also 21 and was third in both last year’s national under 23 championship and in Alexandria.
Stoychev (23) is the national time trial champion and was part of the squad which won the team time trial stage of the 2006 Tour of Bulgaria. They will be supported by Zaraliev, who plays a strong role as a domestique.
The team will prepare for the prestigious Irish race by riding a number of events in Belgium. These include the Wallonia Tour, and should help ensure they travel in the best possible condition.
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