New National team director Richie Beatty named a team of six yesterday to represent Ireland in the new Tour of Britain, the Prutour, from May 23rd to 31st and the inclusion of Fergus McAuley is a big surprise.
The team is led by Andy Roche, winner of the FBD Milk Ras last year. With him will be David McCann, Leslie McKay, Padraig Quinn, Michael McNena and McAuley. The choice of Sean Lally as manager is another surprise.
Although Belgian-based Roche was selected again for the Kerry team for the Ras, which is from May 16th to 24th, he said he wanted to go to the British event. He took part in the race at Ballyboughal last Sunday and he said afterwards he was not sure of his future plans until he checked with his team in Belgium. He goes with them to race in Bermuda next week so should be well prepared when he arrives at Stirling for the start. The tour then goes to Newcastle, York, Blackpool, Nottingham, Cardiff, Reading and Medway, with the finish in London at Holburn.
Beatty said he had good recent reports on McAuley, who lives near Nantes. He was second on the final stage of a race there at the weekend when Quinn was 10th. McAuley raced in Cork as a junior but moved to France with his parents four years ago.
It will be Lally's first assignment as manager but he took part in the old Tour of Britain 30 years ago and had some good stage placings.
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