AN POST RÁS rolls out of Dublin Castle this Sunday and among the 180-rider field are a mix of full-time professional teams, national squads from as far away as the US and New Zealand, and a healthy contingent from Ireland.
The last Irishman to win a stage was Sam Bennett in 2013 but he has since turned professional while before him, there’s been only around a dozen since the turn of the century.
Suffice to say the race is extremely difficult, with average speeds on some stages tipping an eye-watering 45-46 km/h.
Only the best-prepared have any chance and here are five Irish men who we think can push for glory:
1. Eddie Dunbar
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Age: 19 Team for An Post Rás: Irish national team Trade team: Axeon-Hagens Berman
The 19-year old Corkman will be one of the youngest in the field when the race rolls out of Dublin Castle this Sunday afternoon bound for Multyfarnham.
But don’t let his tender years fool you as he’s one of the strongest and most exciting Irish riders to emerge in recent years.
He’s a two-time Junior Tour of Ireland winner, a prolific winner on the home scene and since turning professional with American-based Axeon-Hagens Berman last winter, he’s made real progress.
Granted, that progress was halted temporarily recently when he crashed and broke his collar bone in training but he’s had a good month of training since and looks ready for his first Rás.
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2. Damien Shaw
Age: 32 Trade team and team for An Post Rás: An Post Chainreaction
The reigning national road race champion was on the podium three times in as many days last year but never on the top step.
Riding as a full-time working man 12 months ago, it was quite an achievement but after entering the pro ranks in the interim he’s been able to dedicate all of his time to the bike.
He’s in better shape this year than he was last May and with the help of a strong team, and the national champion’s jersey on his back, he should be there or thereabouts once again.
3. Conor Dunne
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Age: 24 Trade team and team for An Post Rás: JLT-Condor Cycles
The Irish elite international is the only one of this list to have claimed a stage of the race in the past. He also had the distinction of pulling on the race leader’s yellow jersey that day into Longford.
That was 2013 and if he was strong then, he’s on an entirely different level this time around and should be confident of challenging again.
He took a career-best win at the Rutland Melton International Classic last month against a stellar field, so armed with that kind of form, he will be one to watch very closely.
Mark Dowling
Age: 29 Trade team: ASEA-Wheelwork Team for An Post Rás: Louth
The Dunboyne man is a very experienced Rás man and is arguably the best rider in the domestic peloton at present.
He usually goes well on the hillier days so this year’s route should suit him.
Dowling was unlucky not to land a professional contract at the end of last year when the team he was set to join folded at the last minute.
He’s as motivated as ever to deliver and this year could be when he finally lands that big one.
Philip Lavery
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Age: 25 Trade team: Team U Nantes Atlantique Team for An Post Rás: Louth
The former national U23 road race champion was one of the most talented junior riders to emerge from this country in many years.
He made a smooth transition into the U23 ranks and joined Sean Kelly’s An Post team for two seasons before moving to the Node4Giordana team in the UK.
He later moved to France in 2013 and claimed a number of big wins before being signed by the Azerbaijan-registered Synergy Energy Baku.
He was on the brink of signing a lucrative WorldTour contract but when the deal never materialised he opted out of the sport for a spell, only to return last year.
He’s raced sporadically this year but when he has, he’s been in the thick of things. The Rás suits an aggressive racer like him and if he gets a little luck he can take a stage win.
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5 Irish riders who should challenge for a stage win at An Post Rás
AN POST RÁS rolls out of Dublin Castle this Sunday and among the 180-rider field are a mix of full-time professional teams, national squads from as far away as the US and New Zealand, and a healthy contingent from Ireland.
The last Irishman to win a stage was Sam Bennett in 2013 but he has since turned professional while before him, there’s been only around a dozen since the turn of the century.
Suffice to say the race is extremely difficult, with average speeds on some stages tipping an eye-watering 45-46 km/h.
Only the best-prepared have any chance and here are five Irish men who we think can push for glory:
1. Eddie Dunbar
Age: 19
Team for An Post Rás: Irish national team
Trade team: Axeon-Hagens Berman
The 19-year old Corkman will be one of the youngest in the field when the race rolls out of Dublin Castle this Sunday afternoon bound for Multyfarnham.
But don’t let his tender years fool you as he’s one of the strongest and most exciting Irish riders to emerge in recent years.
He’s a two-time Junior Tour of Ireland winner, a prolific winner on the home scene and since turning professional with American-based Axeon-Hagens Berman last winter, he’s made real progress.
Granted, that progress was halted temporarily recently when he crashed and broke his collar bone in training but he’s had a good month of training since and looks ready for his first Rás.
2. Damien Shaw
Age: 32
Trade team and team for An Post Rás: An Post Chainreaction
The reigning national road race champion was on the podium three times in as many days last year but never on the top step.
Riding as a full-time working man 12 months ago, it was quite an achievement but after entering the pro ranks in the interim he’s been able to dedicate all of his time to the bike.
He’s in better shape this year than he was last May and with the help of a strong team, and the national champion’s jersey on his back, he should be there or thereabouts once again.
3. Conor Dunne
Age: 24
Trade team and team for An Post Rás: JLT-Condor Cycles
The Irish elite international is the only one of this list to have claimed a stage of the race in the past. He also had the distinction of pulling on the race leader’s yellow jersey that day into Longford.
That was 2013 and if he was strong then, he’s on an entirely different level this time around and should be confident of challenging again.
He took a career-best win at the Rutland Melton International Classic last month against a stellar field, so armed with that kind of form, he will be one to watch very closely.
Mark Dowling
Age: 29
Trade team: ASEA-Wheelwork
Team for An Post Rás: Louth
The Dunboyne man is a very experienced Rás man and is arguably the best rider in the domestic peloton at present.
He usually goes well on the hillier days so this year’s route should suit him.
Dowling was unlucky not to land a professional contract at the end of last year when the team he was set to join folded at the last minute.
He’s as motivated as ever to deliver and this year could be when he finally lands that big one.
Philip Lavery
Age: 25
Trade team: Team U Nantes Atlantique
Team for An Post Rás: Louth
The former national U23 road race champion was one of the most talented junior riders to emerge from this country in many years.
He made a smooth transition into the U23 ranks and joined Sean Kelly’s An Post team for two seasons before moving to the Node4Giordana team in the UK.
He later moved to France in 2013 and claimed a number of big wins before being signed by the Azerbaijan-registered Synergy Energy Baku.
He was on the brink of signing a lucrative WorldTour contract but when the deal never materialised he opted out of the sport for a spell, only to return last year.
He’s raced sporadically this year but when he has, he’s been in the thick of things. The Rás suits an aggressive racer like him and if he gets a little luck he can take a stage win.
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An Post Rás Conor Dunne Cycling Damien Shaw Eddie Dunbar Home truths mark dowling Philip Lavery