CHRIS NEWTON, who won the overall title twice, will join last year’s champion Simon Richardson, and the 2008 winner, Stephen Gallagher, on the line for next month’s FBD Insurance Rás.

THE withdrawal of Mark Scanlon from the FBD Insurance Rás due to illness came as a huge disappointment to debutant Irish rider Bryan Keane.

DAVID O’LOUGHLIN aims to enhance his prospects of making the Irish Olympic cycling team with a podium finish in next week’s FBD Milk Rás.