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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
GERMANY- THURINGER ENERGIE TARGETS ANOTHER FBD RAS YELLOW JERSEY
By FBD Press release/SS
30 Apr 2010,
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One of the favourites for this year�s Tour de France, Germany�s Tony Martin, won the FBD R�S in 2007. The team he led to victory on that occasion, Thuringer Energie, returns to the race this year with another very talented young line-up. Marcel Kittel, John Degenkolb, Jakob Steigmiller, Philipp Klein and Bastian B�rgel will together target the final yellow jersey, as well as the best young rider classification.
�Our objective is the overall standings and results on the several stages,� said directeur sportif Mario Kummer, a former Olympian who has worked with the T-Mobile and Astana teams.
Kittel (22) is one of Germany�s most promising young riders, winning the European time trial championships last year and finishing fourth in the under 23 world championship equivalent. His wins include stages in the Fl�che du Sud and the Thuringen-Rundfahrt races.
Degenkolb (21) took a bronze medal in the under 23 world road race championships in Varese 2008, and has continued to gather strong results since. He was third in the 2009 Ronde Van Vlaanderen [Tour of Flanders] for under 23 riders, placed sixth this year, was second in the Under 23 Nations Cup event, La C�te Picardie and won a stage of the Tour de Bretagne.
Like B�rgel, Steigmiller is just 20 years of age. He took a silver medal in the time trial at the world junior championships in 2008, the same year he took three bronze medals at the European track championships. This year he was fifth on a stage of the Tour de Bretagne, and will be aiming to keep building form in advance of the FBD R�S.
Klein (22) is a former world junior scratch race champion and this year netted third on a stage of the Cintur�n Ciclista Internacional a Mallorca. The team is completed by B�rgel, who was fifth in the 2.2-ranked Mainfranken Tour last year.
Race director Dermot Dignam was impressed by the team when it won the FBD R�S in 2007, and believes another good display is in store. �As the results show, these riders are set to play a big part in cycling in the years ahead. They may be young, but will make a real impression in this year�s FBD R�S and could well be in the running for the final yellow jersey. I�m looking forward to seeing them race here next month.�
This year�s FBD R�S will begin on Sunday May 23rd and runs for eight days. It will be 1219 kilometres in length, crosses 24 tough categorised climbs, and features stage finishes in Dundalk, Carrick on Shannon, Oughterard, Tipperary, Seskin Hill/Carrick on Suir, Gorey, Kilcullen and Skerries.
Thus far, teams have been confirmed from Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the USA, Britain and now Germany. More international teams will be announced in the final run-up to the race.
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FOUR FORMER RACE WINNERS LEAD BRITISH TEAMS IN FBD INSURANCE R�S
Apr 29, 2010,
Double FBD R�S winner Chris Newton, 2009 champion Simon Richardson and 2008 victor Stephen Gallagher have all be confirmed for this year�s race, with the three riders leading British-registered squads in the event. Also expected to attend is Andy Roche, who won the race in 1997.
Race organizer Dermot Dignam has confirmed that the Rapha � Condor Sharp, Sigma Sport - Specialized, Planet X, Motor point Marshalls� Pasta and Isle of Man teams will all travel prior to the May 23rd start in Dunboyne, and should have a major influence on the race.
Newton showed fine form this year when he finished fourth in the points race at the world track championship in Denmark. The former world champion and Olympic silver medalist have competed in the prestigious Irish tour on several occasions and have both the experience and the strength needed to shine once again.
His knowledge of the race means he can also provide crucial advice to his four team-mates, Dan Craven, Ben Greenwood, Jonathan Tiernan Locke and Matt Cronshaw.
�The team lineup reflects the slightly hillier route than in the past, along with the fact that we will also be riding the Tour of Japan [with other riders] the week before,� said John Herety, who has directed several of his riders to FBD R�S honours.
�The initial goal will be stage wins and, if things go well in the first few days, the general classification.�
The Sigma Sport team of defending champion Simon Richardson has its target set fully on the final yellow jersey. The squad also includes Irishman Stephen Gallagher, who won the race with the An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team in 2008.
�We are coming to the RAS with the clear objective of aiming to win,� said the manager Matthew Stephens. �We have the two most recent winners on our squad who are both in very good form. They will be ably backed up by Kit Gilham, who was the 2008 King of the Mountains, Wouter Sybrandy and James Williamson, who are all extremely talented riders in their own right.�
The team currently tops the British rankings and has been invited to compete in next September�s Tour of Britain.
�The R�S course this year looks particularly challenging which will hopefully play to our strengths,� he continued. �Everyone involved with the team is looking forward to the challenge once more. I'm sure that whatever the result we will have added a great deal to what looks likely to be a tremendous event.�
The British-registered Planet X team has a very strong Irish representation, with four of the five riders being from this side of the Irish sea. Former stage winner Roger Aiken, Martyn Irvine, Stephen Barrett and Gary Crory will join up with Mark Lovatt, who competed in the race on many occasions and wore the yellow jersey.
Former Ireland manager Frank Campbell will direct the riders. He managed the victorious 2004 squad, which won the FBD R�S with David McCann.
Also travelling are the Motorpoint Marshalls� Pasta team and the Isle of Man line-up. More details about their line-ups will be revealed before the race start, but they too will send strong squads which will have a real influence on the final outcome. Roche is expected to lead the Motorpoint Marshall�s Pasta outfit.
Race organiser Dermot Dignam feels certain that these teams will further boost the quality of the field for the 2.2-ranked event. �With three former winners amongst the latest line-ups to be announced, it�s clear that some real heavy hitters have signed up for this year�s race,� he said yesterday. �Apart from having the strength to aim for the final yellow jersey, these riders have the advantage of being aware of the extremely tactical nature of the racing at the FBD R�S. This year�s contest is going to be something special.�
Thus far teams have been confirmed from Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the USA and Wales. More international teams will be announced in the weeks ahead.
This year�s FBD R�S will begin on Sunday May 23rd and runs for eight days. It will be 1219 kilometres in length, crosses 24 tough categorised climbs, and features stage finishes in Dundalk, Carrick on Shannon, Oughterard, Tipperary, Seskin Hill/Carrick on Suir, Gorey, Kilcullen and Skerries.
The 2.2-ranked event will be once again sponsored by FBD Insurances and supported by the Irish Sports Council.
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