Home boost as Power takes on Rás invaders

HOPES of wresting the FBD Insurance RÁS title back from England’s Chris Newton got a major boost yesterday with news that two-time winner Ciaran Power is making a dramatic return on O’Connell Street on May 21 to lead the Dan Morrissey/Tipperary team.

The Waterford man has a spectacular record in the race. He won in 1998 and 2002, and when he last took part two years ago won stages into Ballina and Oldcastle and finished second in the points classification.

After that he made his second appearance in the Olympics, finishing 13th in the Athens Road Race, and went on to ride with the Jersey-based professional Navigators team.

In recent times his form was affected by a blood flow obstruction that caused numbness and loss of power in one of his legs, but that problem has now been successfully treated and he returned in last weekend’s Tour of Ulster where he dominated the King of the Mountains classification.

“He made a spectacular attack in Armagh, leaving the bunch and riding across to the break in awesome fashion, that was really impressive,” his Dan Morrissey/Tipperary teammate, Martin O’Loughlin, insisted.

“He will get better between now and the Rás and will get even better.”

Dan Morrissey’s got the perfect boost at the weekend when Ray Clarke brought off a shock victory in the Tour of Ulster.

“We would like to think he can win a stage at least,” said O’Loughlin.

Apart from Martin O’Loughlin and Ray Clarke, Power will have support from Timmy Barry and Rory Wyley from Dungarvan, both presently competing in the Tour of Turkey.

David O’Loughlin, national road race champion for the past two years, lines out with the Grant Thornton Irish team.