Winn boost for Rás

THE FBD Insurance Rás has been further boosted with the news that former winner Julian Winn is set to lead a strong Wales Stena Line team and confirmation that Estonia, who have figured prominently in previous years, will also join the line-up next month.

Winn fought off a ferocious challenge for a decisive win back in 2000 and immediately joined the Italian team, Fakta, with whom he went on to win the Grand Prix Villers-Cotterets and perform admirably in the Giro d’Italia.

He won the British national road race championship in 2002 but returns to the scene of his greatest triumph. He will have the backing of a nice blend of youthful enthusiasm in Robert Partridge and Lewys Hobbs alongside the experience of Jamie Norfolk and Paul Sheppard.

Stena Line have a long association with the Ras and each year ships in teams from Scandinavia, Britain and Europe.

Amongst them this year will be the Estonian cycle racing team, Kalev Chocolate Classic Bicycles, the latest of six professional teams to confirm participation in the event which gets under way from Dublin’s GPO on May 22.

The Estonians now join the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Scotland, Wales and six American teams.