Focused Power eyes historic third Rás title

CIARAN POWER (Pezula) would like to take his place among the legends of Irish cycling next week by winning the FBD Insurance Rás for the third time.

Since Irish cycling’s showpiece first hit the roads in 1953 only Shay O’Hanlon, who dominated it for four years, and Kildare man Paddy Flanagan who won it in 1960, 1964 and came back again in 1975, have succeeded in winning it three times.

Ciaran Power, who won the race in 1998 and 2002, joins Philip Cassidy, Stephen Spratt, Paul McCormack and Chris Newton from Britain on two.