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Last Updated: 22 May 2018 - 7:06:27 PM |
CYCLING IRELAND ANNOUNCES LINE UP FOR AN POST RAS
By Press Release
18 May 2011,
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Mix of youth and experience for Skoda Ireland team
The Skoda Ireland team for the 2011 An Post Ras was announced today. It will be led by experienced Ras campaigner Paul Griffin, while three U23 riders, Sean Downey, Felix English and Conor Dunne, plus Belgian based Peter Hawkins complete the squad.
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| Paul Griffin will be team captain - Peter Purfield |
Performance Director Phil Leigh outlined the make up of the team. Griffin will be the team captain, and as a recent stage winner in the tough Ras Munham in Kerry over Easter he is looking forward to passing on his vast knowledge of the Ras to the younger riders.
Apart from Griffin it is a young team that is still developing. We have three U23 riders and two of them, English and Dunne, are first year U23s. English, who also rides the track, is a double stage winner from the Junior Tour of Ireland last year. While Dunne will be making his debut in Ireland Leigh added.
Dunne, who is based in Belgium, gave a solid account of himself in the recent Nations Cup events (Tour of Flanders and ZLM Tour).
Leigh also hopes that two previous Ras riders will have a big say on this year's race. 'Sean Downey is another rider who acquitted himself well in Europe recently and is racing mainly in France this year. He rode his first Ras in 2009, and is keen to step up and have an impact on the race this year. Peter Hawkins, another previous Ras rider, has a number of top 10 finishes in Belgium to his name this year and was top 15 in the Lincoln GP last weekend.
He then outlined the team's objectives for this year's race Objectives for the race will include top 10's and podium places along with opportunities to take leaders jerseys. For some of the younger riders it is their first major stage race and an ideal opportunity to learn to ride within a team environment. It is a strong field again this year but we are looking to leave our mark on the race.
The team will be managed by ex Pro Neil Martin who is keen to see the riders learn and be competitive at this level.
Skoda Ireland team for An Post Ras:
1. Paul Griffin
2. Peter Hawkins
3. Sean Downey
4. Felix English
5. Conor Dunne
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