Streamlined Irish Tour for Lance

ORGANISERS of the Tour of Ireland cycle race, held in association with Fáilte Ireland, have announced a new three-day format for 2009.

The race, from Friday, 21 to Sunday, August 23, will welcome seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong who is bringing his Astana team to Ireland for the first time. Six-times Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish (Columbia – HTC) also returns to Ireland where he scored three consecutive stage wins last year.

“We have had great support from the event sponsors, teams and local authorities to keep the race on the road in what is a very tough economic climate,” said Event Organiser Alan Rushton. “As a result our event is leaner and fitter and the race will show a large international television audience that Ireland has a great deal to offer visitors. We have over 550km of racing through spectacular countryside and victory will be a hard fought affair.”

112 cyclists from 16 teams will head out from The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, County Wicklow on August 21.