Tomorrow sees the start of the An Post Rás 2013: eight days of suffering for amateur and pro riders alike, with the longest stage being 160 km, and the penultimate one winding through the Wicklow mountains. For the second year running Orwell will be entering a five-man team to compete for the county prizes, we profile them below!

 

The Sponsors

Thanks first to Zurich Insurance Ireland for sponsoring the effort by providing the cover for the team car. A big thank you to them for helping out the team and club. You can see their various services over at zurichinsurance.ie.

Zurich in Ireland is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a leading global insurer. We offer a wide range of products, from Private Motor and Home Insurance to Engineering, Commercial Property and Professional Indemnity Insurance. We are one of the largest insurers in Ireland, employing over 400 people. Our ongoing commitment to service excellence has been recognised throughout the industry, with both the Irish Brokers Association and the Professional Insurance Brokers Association awarding Zurich the number one position for service excellence in 2012, 2011 and 2010. www.zurichinsurance.ie

Thanks also to Europcar for discounting the rental of the team car for the week, and to all those who came to the fundraiser on Tuesday night. The final tally was about €700 to put toward the Rás expenses. Credit to Joe Daly Cycles in Dundrum for providing spare parts, bidons and plenty of energy food.

 

The Team

Although a large squad of Orwell riders expressed interest in racing the Rás this year, only a handful made the cut in the end. This followed a demanding programme of training and racing, designed to produce the strongest possible team to represent the club in Ireland's premier race, the UCI 2.2 ranked Rás.

 


A. Collins in action on Glengesh

Aidan Collins will be riding his second Rás after completing last year's edition. The Dublin native had a standout day on Glengesh, and will be relishing the chance to shine on the tough climbs again this year. Despite bad luck with punctures and crashes, Collins has picked up enough prizes this season - most notably 1st unplaced A2 at the Harry Reynolds Memorial - to be assured that his form will see him through the next week.

 


D. Collins gritting his teeth on the way to an excellent result in Stamullen

Diarmuid Collins' selection looked in doubt at the beginning of the year, when an Achilles' tendon issue forced him to ease off on the training and racing. He showed his dedication by steadily building himself back up, taking an unplaced prize at the Stamullen GP - one of the tougher races on the calendar - and doing so with a solo attack. He was also instrumental in Downey's win of the Mick Lally GP, and is currently sitting third overall in the club league.

 


Connors (L) celebrating with Brian Ahern after completing last year's Rás

Odhran Connors has been consistently strong this year, with a superb unplaced prize at the Shay Elliot, and more in Stamullen and Balbriggan. Strong rides at both Rás Mumhan and the Tour of Ulster will have increased his confidence and form, and he can count on his many years' experience of riding the Rás - this is his fifth consecutive edition. He was on last year's fully home-grown team along with Aidan Collins, and finished a superb 11th overall of the A2 riders.

 


Crowley relaxing off the bike

Aidan Crowley is also a veteran of many Rásanna, and comes to the team as a guest from DID Dunboyne, though he has a long history with Orwell, going back to 1998, when he rode with Club President Dave Tansey in that year's Rás. More recently, he sprinted to a fine win at Mondello at the end of April, and will be looking to showcase that sprint again next week.

 


Downey receiving his trophy after winning the Mick Lally Memorial

Eric Downey is no stranger to these pages of course, but his maiden Rás will be a whole new challenge for him. Having started the season as an A2, he opened his 2013 account with an outright win at the Mick Lally Memorial. Since then he has earned his upgrade to A1, and taken two fourth places at that level too. After a badly timed crash ruined his chances of placing at the Shay Elliot, we're looking forward to seeing how far Downey can soar next week!

 

In the support slots, Tom Blennerhassett will be reprising his 2012 role as mechanic. With a wealth of experience at his disposal after last year's Rás, and multiple Rásanna na mBan, Blennerhassett will be an invaluable asset to the team. Graham Thomas will be acting as manager, deciding team tactics throughout the race to help the lads achieve the best possible results. Although now a member of Lucan CRC, Thomas was a longtime Orwell member, and former club road race champion. He has ridden with and managed a number of Rás teams, including Orwell in 2009. And finally, Brian Hayden of St Tiernan's CC will be the team soigneur, sorting logistics and keeping the team fed and watered while off the bike. Brian has never been an Orwell member, though he has always secretly wanted to be. He has previously worked as masseur for the Orwell Rás team when Thomas was manager, so this year is a happy reunion.

 

The Rás

As the Rás snakes its way around the country, there are several opportunities to watch the race - if you're Dublin based, stages 1, 7 and 8 are very accessible. The riders are due to roll out from Dunboyne at 12.30pm tomorrow, making their way to Longford over the peak of the Cat 3 Sliabh an Cailleach.

Stage 2 is a pan flat 160km from Longford to Nenagh, followed by a lumpy trek to Listowel. An arduous stage 4 to Glengarriff contains four Cat 3 and three Cat 2 climbs, and the Cat 1 Healy Pass. Stage 5 to Mitchelstown is bumpy again - two Cat 2s and a single Cat 3, while Stage 6 is relatively flat before hitting the hills of north Kilkenny and finishing in Carlow.

Stage 7 takes place on Saturday, going from Carlow to Naas, via the Cat 1 climbs of the Shay Elliot and the Wicklow Gap - both ideal locations to witness the suffering! Or pick one of the six other categorised climbs the race will be encountering on the day. The final stage winds up in Skerries with a street party. Ardgillan Castle gates is the site of the Black Hills KOH point, which the riders have to tackle twice, a nice spot to watch them struggle with the final miles, before kicking back in Skerries for the presentations.

For further details see anpost.ie, but be sure to get out to the roadside at some point to cheer on the team!