Entry of strong Slovenian team upsets pre-Rás predictions

PRE-RACE predictions for the FBD Milk Rás have been thrown into disarray with the news that Slovenia have entered a strong team for the eight-day showpiece, which gets underway on Sunday week.

Directeur Sportif Srecko Glivar has put forward Team Perutnina PTUJ, one of the strongest professional teams in UCI Division 3. The team will be led by experienced 36-year-old Valter Bona, who has mixed it with the best over the years and he will be joined by Igor Kranjec, Mitja Mahori, Massimo Demarin and Miran Kelner, and while they may not be household names in Ireland it is certain there will be a lot heard of them over the coming weeks because they have all competed at the highest level on the European circuit.

For the past couple of weeks Ireland's David O'Loughlin has been writing himself into the list of potential winners highlighting his claims by winning the Lincoln Grand Prix.

But Ireland's formidable challenge for overall honours has been threatened by the inclusion, first of all of the team from Kazakhstan and now Slovenia.

Add the British challenge, teams from the USA and Germany as well as Wales along with 13 packed county teams and one sees a very impressive field of 145 riders going to the line outside the GPO in Dublin.

The race goes through some of Ireland's big strongholds, including Carrick on Suir. Carrick will provide an exciting mountain-top finish on Seskin Hill just two days before the race ends.

The first stage will end in Trim before the race sets off for Oranmore then Charleville, Caherciveen, Millstreet, Seskin Hill and then the penultimate stage into Tullow before the grand finale in the Phoenix Park on May 30.

In recent weeks, David O'Loughlin has been reinforcing his claims for a place in the Olympic road race but this will be his stiffest challenge to date. Olympic Team Manager Martin O'Loughlin has named a strong team.

Tommy Evans is a former winner of the Rás, while David McCann, a multi stage winner and former runner-up, has a big reputation in the event.

Over the years Eugene Moriarty from Listowel, who rides for Lee Strand/Cycleways, has tasted the highs and lows of the Rás, but he should know the Kerry routes like the back of his hand.