When entries for the FBD Milk Ras closed with the organiser Dermot Dignam last weekend the total of 165 exceeded expectations and the Ireland team of Ciaran Power, Brian Kenneally, Conor Henry, Tommy Evans and Karl Donnelly were faced with opposition from an impressive gathering of international representatives.
The Ras begins in Dublin tomorrow fortnight and teams from Estonia, Belgium (led by Irish champion Morgan Fox), Germany, France, Netherlands, South Africa and Japan, as well as six regional selections from England and Scotland and 17 County teams, take part.
Last year there was a record 165 starters and with a few withdrawals expected that is not likely to be equalled. Germany, Netherlands and France have obvious strong candidates for overall honours in Christian Werner, Herman Fledderus and Jerome Desjardin.
Last year's winner, Andy Roche, is not bidding for a repeat this time. He was nominated to lead the Kerry team again but his preference was for the new Tour of Britain, the Prutour, which clashes with the Ras as it is from May 23rd to 31st.
National team director Richie Beatty has named Roche to lead the Irish challenge in Britain. With him will be David McCann, Leslie McKay, Padraig Quinn, Michael McNena and the Frenchbased Fergus McAuley, who is a newcomer to this level of competition. The manager is Sean Lally.
Pat Clarke has assembled an impressive line-up of 120 for the Tour of Ulster over the weekend with nearly all the top men on the home scene included. It starts in Lisburn tomorrow and finishes with a time trial at Dungannon on Monday.
Of the five chosen for the Ireland team in the Ras all except Kenneally will be there but they are not riding as a team. Clarke only accepted Power and Kenneally when vacancies arose following late withdrawals last weekend. However, Kenneally has since decided to go to the Tour of Lancashire over the weekend with Philip Cassidy, Colm Farrell and Bill Moore.
Kieran MacMahon, last Sunday's winner at Ballyboughal, is included in the Ulster line-up with his Limerick clubmate David Hourigan, as is Paul Griffin, Shane Baker and last year's winner Stephen O'Sullivan.
In addition to Henry and Evans the strong Northern contingent includes Ian Chivers, Dave McCall, Denis Easton, Neil Teggart, John Grant, Brendan Graham, Joe Barr and Mark Lyttle so keen competition is assured.
There is a tough opening stage of 95 miles tomorrow from Lisburn (12.0) to Enniskillen followed by 87 miles on Sunday (12.0) to Cootehill. On Monday morning (9.30) there is 48 miles to Dungannon with the final time trial of 4.3 miles there, first man off at two o'clock.
