The five riders and support personnel to represent Scott Orwell at An Post Rás, Ireland’s top international stage race for men, have been announced.

Stephen Barry, Jamie Busher, Brian McArdle, Brian McNally and Ronan O’Flynn are the riders who will be flying the flag for Scott Orwell in the eight-day UCI international race which begins in Dublin Castle on Sunday week, the 21st May.

All five have performed with distinction since the start of the season and have been in the prizes in various races since March. The squad has prepared diligently with a diet of long miles, hard intervals and some of the toughest one-day and stage race events on the Irish road racing calendar including Rás Mumhan and the Tour of Ulster.


Last year's team presentation at Dublin Castle - this year Manuel Fontan will be replaced by Brian McNally

Stephen Barry will be looking for his first Rás finisher's medal after being forced to retire after just one stage 12 months ago due to a family bereavement. He and fellow Dubliner Brian McNally finished in the first third of general classification in Rás Mumhan and are well prepared for the step up to UCI level racing.

Jamie Busher is looking forward to his second Rás appearance and, having secured the all important finisher’s medal in Skerries last May, the Wexford native has gone on to secure his promotion to the A1 ranks this season.

Two-time Rás finisher Brian McArdle is riding into form at just the right time and showed his class by finishing in the top half of GC as Orwell’s top finisher in the recent Tour of Ulster. The climbing specialist will relish the demanding parcours offered by the organisers which includes several hilly days in County Donegal.

Last but no means least, Ronan O’Flynn showed the depth of his talent with ninth and 11th place stage finishes in Rás Mumhan. The classy Galwegian heads into his second Rás in Orwell colours with a wealth of experience banked in the past 12 months.

Rás veteran Odhrán Connors will be reserve for the event and, having performed with distinction in several Rásanna in the past, as well as during this year’s Rás Mumhan and the Tour of Ulster, is well placed to step into the breach should he be required.


McNally in action at the recent Deenside Cup

The team will be managed by Ken O'Neill with Kilian Doyle on duty as mechanic for the eight-day event.

Ronan Quigley will be team soigneur and van driver and all in the club are very grateful to all three for giving their time to the cause so selflessly.

The squad is completing its preparations with most riders tuning up with a combination of the Noel O’Neill Trophy race in the Phoenix Park followed by the daunting National Road Series event, the Shay Elliott Memorial in Wicklow this coming Sunday.

Logistics planning is almost complete but the team currently have a vacancy for a masseur/masseuse. All expenses will be paid as well as a contribution towards lost earnings for the week. Contact Ken O’Neill on 087 782 5242 for further details.

Full route details for An Post Rás 2017

 

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