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Last Updated: 28 May 2022 - 9:05:48 AM |
2022 Rás Tailteann First International Teams Confirmed
By Eugene Moriarty, PRO
25 May 2022,
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First International Teams Confirmed
The Netherlands
Isle of Man
England Spirit Racing Team
The Netherlands
Returning to An Rás Tailteann, the Netherlands will be represented this time by the Wielervereniing (WV) West- Frisa Team.
Managed by former top Dutch rider Tino Haaknaan, no stranger to racing in Ireland during his own career. He brings a team that is sure to make a big contribution to the 2022 edition.
Dutch-representation in An Rás has always added to the excitement of the race as evidenced in the 2018 edition when the race for final honours went town to the wire on the last stage. That year Dutch rider Luuc Bugter of the Netherlands Delta Cycling Rotterdam team took the final yellow jersey in one of the most dramatic finishes ever. Winning by the narrowest margin possible, a single second, from Cyrille Thiery of Switzerland following the final stage into Skerries. We can be sure that this team will be doing its utmost to replicate their compatriots’ success again this June.
Ger Campbell Race Director commented “any team that comes from the Netherlands always animates An Rás. We don’t expect any differently this year, especially with the team that Tino is bringing” adding that “we look forward to seeing how this Dutch team performs as you can be sure they will never be
far from the action”
Tino Haaknan, manager of the Netherlands - WV West Frisia team when asked about coming to the 2022 Rás “ja we are very happy to be returning to race in Ireland and are thankful to Cairde Rás Tailteann for facilitating our participation in this prestigious international event” he went on to add “I think our team has good chances in this race, and we know some of the roads in Kerry especially, from our participation in the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan over many years, which is a big advantage for us”
The team line-up includes:
• Tijs Dekker
• Thomas Hartog
• Jim Kes
• Guillaume Visser
• Stefan Appelman
Isle of Man
Another team that has been part of the fabric of An Rás Tailteann, is the Isle of Man Team. Riders from the Isle of Man have animated many editions of An Rás Tailteann, their most famous cycling progeny being Mark Cavendish and of course former winner of An Rás Tailteann in 1997, Andrew Roche who won a fiercely contested event that year.
The Isle of Man team returns this year under the stewardship of a new support system, managed by Conor Davies and with the backing of a new initiative and supported from the local community by its own board. Drawing from a healthy reservoir of collective experience over many editions of An Rás Tailteann. This year the Isle of Man team is sure to leave its mark on proceedings just as it has in the past.
When asked about coming back to the Rás, Conor was keen to “compliment the efforts that have been made to put this great race back on the road” adding ”the importance of this great event cannot be understated, not just for our team, but for all of cycling. There is effectively no other event like the Rás on the International calendar where we have such a unique historical mix of professionals and amateurs competing shoulder to shoulder. We relish the opportunity to return to fierce competition around the roads of Ireland”
Gerard Campbell Race Director commented “we always look forward to welcoming the Isle of Man team back to an Rás and again in 2022. For many years we have watched the development of riders from the Isle of Man and look forward to welcoming the newest generation to an Rás 2022”
The team line-up includes:
• Corrin Leeming
• Niall Quiggin
• Will Draper
• Chris Kneen
• James Harrison
England – Spirit Racing Team
Born 2010 the Spirit Racing Team has steadily progressed and grown substantially in the intervening years. Now firmly established as one of the strongest British Elite Development Teams in the UK and Europe.
The team competes in the UK's biggest races and gets invites to the UCI Europe, Asia, African Tours and of course An Rás Tailteann here in Ireland. It will be hard not to expect big things of this experienced organisation as it fields some of the most promising riders coming thorough the elite British system. English teams have always provided formidable source of action in the Rás and it should be no different this year considering the calibre of the squad that is coming this way.
Team Principal Russell Rowles was quoted “As a team we are really looking forward to the Rás, hoping for success on some of the traditional big climbing days and some of our punchier riders for the faster stages” he went on “our ambition will of course be to compete for a GC (general classification) win and hopefully some stage wins along the way, we are very excited and can't wait”
Gerard Campbell Race Director was keen to point out “we expect this team is aiming like many others, to take the race by the proverbial horns. Likely we will see them active in breakaways and eager to make their mark on the 2022 edition with the same enthusiasm and energy they have brought to their performances in the Tour of the North in previous years”
The team line-up includes:
• George Kimber
• Farley Barber
• Frazier Carr
• Josh Housley
• Joe Hill
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This years route:-
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