The powerful Womenscycling.ie squad announced for An Post Rás na mBan boasts riders representing the cream of Irish road racing talent, all of whom have excelled at national and international level this year.
Meanwhile District Noord Holland have confirmed their squad line-up for their return to the Ring of Kerry on September 14th.
Current Irish National Time Trial Champion Caroline Ryan heads the line up of a star studded Womenscycling.ie team, wearing the distinctive colours of the Women’s Commission of Cycling Ireland. Ryan was part of the elite national track squad until funding cuts forced an end to the programme earlier this year and the Richie’s Bike Shop-Garda CC team member.
While she is best known for her National 3km Pursuit record and her 10 mile Time Trial record, Ryan is no mean road racer as she showed in finishing third in the National Road Race Championships in Emyvale.
Fiona Meade has been a consistent performer at national and international level for many years and the Corkwoman’s noted sprint finish will be of value in any group finishes in Kerry.
By contrast Cait Elliott is best known as a star on the mountain bike scene but the WXC World Racing Team rider has experience of previous editions of Ras na mBan and will not be daunted by the challenging hills on the this year’s five-day event.
Francine Meehan was a member of the successful Irish squad which supported Olivia Dillon to victory in Sneem 12 months ago and the Tullamore woman has had another great year of elite level training and competition as the pilot of Catherine Walsh’s tandem in World Cup Paralympic competiton, including a bronze medal in Italy.
Melanie Späth is, like Elliott, one of the country’s top mountain bikers and the German born star has focused more of her activity on the road this year competing with distinction against male competition at several of the country’s toughest stage races during the year.
Having won the County Rider classification on a number of occasions it would be no surprise if the Cycleways supported rider has loftier ambitions in An Post Ras na mBan this year.
The final member of the team is Laura Banfield of Swords CC, a rider who has made big strides this year as a member of the Irish Development Squad.
The squad will be managed by Paul Deans with Frank O’Connor as mechanic.
Also confirmed this week is the selection from District Noord Holland, a long time supporter of Ras na mBan.
Herman Schenk’s team is a typical blend of youth and experience and, if previous squads from the region are anything to go, are set to play a key role in the destination of stage and overall honours during the event.
The five-rider team includes three juniors and two seniors with ages ranging from 16-year-old Renee Welling to 26-year-old Silja Visser. Other squad members are juniors Eva Buurman and Martje de Boer, and senior rider Alicja Verhagen.
An Post Rás na mBan takes place from September 14th to 18th and this year’s event marks the 25th anniversary of the first international women’s stage racing. The race is headquartered for the fourth year in a row at Sneem Hotel.
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