Rás Mumhan call for Dunworth

TRALEE’S Denis Dunworth has been named in the An Post Sean Kelly Development squad for the traditional Pauline Sugrue/Ras Mumhan 4-Day International Cycle Race over the Easter weekend.

The race, which gets underway with a 44-mile stage that starts and ends in Killorglin on Good Friday, has always been a vital ingredient in the preparations for the FBD Insurance Ras and the list of entries indicates this continues to be the case.

The opening stage, a visit to Tralee, will be an appropriate one for Dunworth, who will be joined by Ras rider Mark Cassidy, Isaac Spiers, who won the first stage last year, Ronan McLaughlin and Tom Martin on the team.

Champion Brian Kenneally will be assisted by two other former winners, Dubliner Stephen O’Sullivan and Eugene Moriarty from Listowel on his Myhome.ie/Cycleways team, while Tralee man Paul Griffin, in the Giant Asia colours, will be trying and go one better than last year when he took a stage and then the runners-up position on the podium after an exciting duel with Kenneally.

The new Pezula racing team will be led by Ciaran Power and he will have back-up from English riders Cameron Jennings, Kieran Page and Morgan Fox who won a stage last year.

Sean Lacey, who confirmed his current good form when he was third in Carlow last Sunday, leads the South Dublin Wheelers team while the Earl of Desmond will have Tom O’Flaherty, Niall Brosnan and Brendan Lacey in their team.

Michael Lucey carries the Killarney hopes and Micheal Concannon will be in the colours of the promoting club while others with good form are Tom Shanahan (Limerick CC), David Brennan (Castlebar CC) and Vincent Gleeson (West Clare CC) .

A strong international challenge will be spearheaded by Dutch team Forte June Translations led by Tino Hakaman, who made a big impression years ago.

Norwegian rider Ger Bisgard is another who will be expected to feature, as will the Surrey team led by Toby Neave who won a stage in 2005.

The second stage on Saturday starts and finishes in Caherciveen and takes the riders on a visit to Valentia and the Glen incorporating six climbs along the 84 mile route.

Waterville hosts the start and finish on Sunday with five climbs punctuating the 63 mile trip, including two first category climbs at Bealach Beama and Bealach Óisin.

The race finishes on Monday morning with the usual 63 mile stage in Killorglin.