Newton gears up to join Rás legends with glorious treble

CHRIS NEWTON, who won the overall title in 2003 and 2005, is favourite to claim a third victory in the FBD Insurance Rás which starts in Naas tomorrow morning.

Only two other riders have achieved that distinction — the legendary Sé O’Hanlon who won it for the first time in 1962 and then won three titles in a row from 1965-7 and the late Paddy Flanagan who won in 1960, 1964 and 1975.

Newton’s past wins were fashioned around experienced Great Britain teams, while this year he leads a relatively young Stena Line team.

“He does not have the depth to support him this year and I think the international teams will take advantage of that,” Cian Lynch, manager of the Subway Eat Fresh Irish team said. “Knowledge of the race is certainly a big help and when it comes to that we won’t be found wanting either.”

He was referring to his own two-pronged challenge for the overall title, which is posed by David McCann and Paul Griffin.

McCann, who finished a close second in 1996 — conceding his own chance of victory in defence of his team mate, Tommy Evans, — won the title in 2004.

“Mark Scanlon will be a very useful ally for them as well,” the Irish team manager insisted. “He is used to this type of racing and will know the roads up around his own patch where a lot of the skirmishes will be fought out — the county and local roads around Loughrea and Sligo that could break up the bunch.”

Ray Clarke, be taking part in the race for the 12th time, on the Dan Morrissey Tipperary team, feels that Paul Griffin is going to be a force.

“I know that Newton is going to be the race favourite but I think Paul (Griffin) has moved up a level this year. And Brian Kenneally has been showing his best ever form. He has been in the top six every weekend all season.”

Kenneally, riding for the Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC team, won Rás Mumhan and either won or finished second every other weekend up to the Shay Elliott when he crashed.

“Since the crash I am not sure about my form. I won’t know for certain until a day or two into the race. I could be flying. I’ll just take it one day at a time.”

Ray Clarke runs his own bike shop in Clonmel — Worldwide Cycles — and despite the pressures of running his own business he looks forward to mixing it with the pros every year.

“It is the only chance some of us get to race at that level,” he said. “But this is probably my last time.”

Tomorrow’s stage will take the riders from Naas to Templemore.