Dunboyne gears up for Rás start again
Dunboyne will host 180 cyclists from all over the world for the start of the 2013 An Post Ras, now a 2.2 world ranked event, on Sunday, with two Meath teams set to compete, starting time, 12.30.
Teams from Ireland will be joined by cyclists from Australia, Canada, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Holland, USA, Great Britain National Team, British Professional teams, Sigma Sport, Node 4 Giordana Racing, also the British Young Pro Team along with 17 county teams and including two from Meath and one from Louth.
This is the fourth successive year that Dunboyne hosts the start of the An Post Ras. Prior to the departure at 12:30, each competitor will sign-on at the Ras Podium in the square and will then be individually introduced to the spectators .
There will be a very poignant moment before the riders depart Dunboyne and this will be when Dermot Dignam, who has been Ras Director for the past 33 years, hands over the Directorship to Tony Campbell, who has been Dermot’s right-hand man for many years and who will then assume the mammoth task of taking the An Post Ras safely to it’s conclusion one week later in Skerries.
The race schedule on Sunday in Dunboyne will be departing at 12:30 on its 135k journey to Longford, through the Royal County for the first 70k of racing, reaching Summerhill at 12:40, Trim 13:02, Athboy where the first hot-spot sprint of day takes place at the Post Office at 13:20, Crossakeel 13:40, then the first climb of the Ras, a third category climb up Slieve Na Callaig at 13:50, Oldcastle 14:00, Virginia 14:15, Ballyjamesduff at 14:27, Granard 15:00. Ballinalee 15:20 and on to the finish at Longford, arrival time expected to be 15:40.
As the riders cross Slieve Na Callaigh, word has spread that the local cycling club have a treat in store with a mini festival of events organised to coincide with the Ras. There will be cycle races taking place for all categories over the climb prior to the arrival of the Ras, plus Traditional Music, Irish Dancing, which incidentally will be under canvas, in preparation for inclement weather conditions.
The Meath DID Dunboyne team will be lead by 20-year old Javan Nulty who hails from Cooperhill, Julianstown. This will be Javan’s second Ras and one that he is really looking forward to as he has hit top form, having won four races so far this season and put in a powerful performance in last week’s Tour of Ulster. Javan is sure to be a very strong contender in the Under 23 competition. His race number for spectators is No. 151. Other team members will be Eugene Moriarty No.152, Andrew Meehan No.153, Stephen O’Sullivan No.154 and Tim O’Regan No.155. The team will be managed by Lloyd Scott.
The Meath M Donnelly/Fast Shipping team will be lead by Colin Robinson, No.156, Chris Reilly No.157, both of these riders rode fantastically well in last week’s Tour of Ulster and both secured second place in different stages here, Frank O’Connor No.158, Stuart Cox No.159 and Alan Burke No.160. This team will be managed by Stamullen man, James Gough.
Other locals riding the Ras will be Ian Richardson who lives in Slane and competes with the UCD club in Dublin. His team-mate Eoin Morton who hails from Swords will also be in the line-up. Morton finished a brilliant third in the very tough Shay Elliott Memorial at Wicklow over the weekend.
Aaron Buggle who is a native of Rathcore, outside Enfield will lead the Rapha-Condor British professional team. Aaron has been living and racing in the UK all season.
The Polygon Sweet Nice team, which is an Irish registered professional squad will have young Skerries rider Stephen Halpin, who teamed up with them early this season and will be hoping for a good performance. Halpins’ comrade Mark Dowling, who competed for many years with the DID Dunboyne team will also compete on this same team.
Conall Collier