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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
Seven Irish riders will today line out in the 2004 Tour of Britain, which begins in Manchester and runs until Sunday. Resurrected after a five year absence, the 2.3 race has attracted an impressively strong field with teams such as US Postal Service, T-Mobile, Quick.Step Davitamon, MrBookmaker.com and Lotto-Domo taking part.
In all twelve pro teams and four national teams will ride the event. Ciarán Power leads the Irish charge in the Navigators colours, the Waterford rider highly motivated after his excellent thirteenth place in the Olympic road race. He is currently trying to attract interest from a first division team and knows that a strong ride on a stage – or, preferably, a winning one – would certainly make his search much easier.
As is his way, Power was reluctant to make bold statements yesterday. ‘I just want to go as well as I can’, he said. ‘I don’t know exactly how I will be going on the distance as it has been a couple of weeks since the Games.’
‘I have felt pretty good since Athens. I raced in Chicago the weekend after the road race in the US Pro criterium championships and felt really, really strong. But I rode for a team-mate in order to try to get the national champion’s jersey for him. That plan didn’t work out on the day, but I felt good.’
Power flew in from the US yesterday but, providing he recovers from the trip, is hoping to go well. ‘I raced here a few years ago in the Prutour as an amateur and did a decent ride. It is good to race in the UK – Ireland is pretty close so it is good for the motivation. Hopefully things will work out well.’
The Grant Thornton Team Ireland squad is also taking part in the race, with six riders lining out. FBD Milk Rás champion David McCann, national champion David O’Loughlin and Tommy Evans are three experienced internationals, while the under 23 riders Philip Deignan, Tim Cassidy and Paidi O’Brien are trying to build form before the world championships in October.
‘The guys are in good shape,’ said team manager Frank Campbell yesterday. ‘The quality of the field is very high but hopefully they will fare well this week. A lot of big pro teams are here and so our lads have an opportunity to show themselves.’
The 2004 Tour of Britain begins today with a 207 kilometre road race which both starts and finishes in Manchester. The riders will tackle two first-category climbs inside the first hour; Ramsbottom Rake and the peculiarly-named Nick of Pendle.
(Shane Stokes’ full coverage of the race is on www.cyclingnews.com this week)
TOUR OF BRITAIN DETAILS:
Stage 1(today): Manchester – Manchester, 207 kms
Stage 2, Thursday: Leeds – Sheffield, 172.3 kms
Stage 3, Friday: Bakewell – Nottingham, 192.1 kms
Stage 4, Saturday: Newport to Celtic Manor, South Wales, 160.9 kms
Stage 5, Sunday: London Criterium, 72.4 kms
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