April 3/14 13:39 pm - Canadian National Squad to Race An Post Ras

Posted by Editoress on 04/3/14
 

The organizers of the An Post Rás stage race in Ireland have confirmed that Canada will be sending a national squad for the eight stage event, which runs from May 18th to 25th, and covers 1260 kilometres.

According to the organizers, the Canadian team will include Rémi Pelletier-Roy, who last year finished second on stage four and fourth overall. Having ended up just forty seconds off the top of the podium, he will be a contender for the yellow jersey.  Pelletier-Roy will be joined by former Junior Tour of Ireland winner Stuart Wight, current Canadian Under-23 champion Alex Cataford, 2013 Canada Games medallist Matteo Dal Cin and Nic Hamilton.  Wight and Cataford also rode last year's event.

in an interview with race organizers, Canadian team manager Luc Arseneau, said that the riders are building up for the Commonwealth Games later this year but regard An Post Rás as a major objective. "Following last year's performances at the Rás, we will be looking for some stage wins as well as getting on that final podium."

He said the riders have already started producing some solid results this year and will have a good build-up. "Rémi Pelletier-Roy just won the season opening Delray Twilight Crit in Florida and Matteo won a stage at the Tucson Bicycle Classic."

"The riders for the An Post Rás will have two programmes in April. Some will be racing in Belgium, while others will stay in America to race the Tour of Gila. Early May, they all will meet in California to ride the Los Angeles Velodrome before going across the ocean to Ireland."