Dillon to Lead Irish Team in An Post Rás na mBan
Reigning champion Olivia Dillon will lead the five-rider Irish squad in this year’s An Post Rás na mBan, following the team announcement today.
Dillon, a full time rider with the professional Peanut Butter & Co outfit, is the most experienced member of the Irish team and will be the road captain as it faces the new five-day format of Ireland’s premier women’s stage race.
Supporting the US-based rider in the Irish team’s quest to replicate last year’s success in the event will be Lauren Creamer, Sandra Fitzgerald, Lauren Gourlay and Ciara Horne.
Creamer is based in Wales where she rides with Abergavenny CC. On a racing trip to Ireland earlier this year she won the third round of the Women’s National League in Bohermeen.
Fitzgerald has blossomed on the local racing scene this year and earns her call up on the strength of consistent high performance throughout the season. The Lucan CRC rider currently holds the lead of the Women’s National League and has posted a string of other top results in mid-week league competition.
Castlebar CC rider Lauren Gourley has shown impressive promise this year as a junior rider and is sure to benefit from five tough days of racing in Kerry this September under the tutelage of Dillon and team manager Gillian McDarby.
Gourlay, Creamer and Fitzgerald are all graduates of the Irish Development Squad which has made great strides this year under the enthusiastic direction of former international McDarby.
The final member of the quintet is Ciara Horne, the exciting Kenilworth-based rider who was a member of Ireland’s World Cup track squad until funding restrictions forced an early conclusion to the programme.
Speaking of his selection, Cycling Ireland High Performance Director Phil Leigh said that the blend of youth and experience in the squad will benefit all riders.
“It is a young team with an experienced leader in Olivia who is also the defending champion,” said Leigh. “The race gives the younger girls an ideal stage race environment in which to learn and develop under the experienced management of Gillian McDarby and road captain Olivia Dillon.”
An Post Rás na mBan takes place from September 14th to 18th. The event, which is centred on and enjoys the support of Sneem Hotel, marks the 25th anniversary of international women’s stage racing in Ireland.
Full race details are available on the official race website at www.rasnamban.com
Further details of participating riders and team selections will be announced in due course.
An Post Rás na mBan is also on Twitter @rasnamban
and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/R%C3%A1s-na-mBan/134361623277256
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For race organisation contact Valerie Considine on +353 86 382 5842
For media enquiries please contact Declan Quigley on +353 087 6848586