An Post Sean Kelly cycling team announced

The An Post Sean Kelly cycling team has today announced its team for this years FBD Insurance Rás which starts this Sunday in Dunboyne.

The line up features three Irishmen, Mark Cassidy, David O’Loughlin and Connor McConvey, alongside Liverpool native Mark McNally and Belgian Pieter Ghyllebert.

The five-man team includes three riders who will be making their Rás debuts for the team, namely McConvey, McNally and Ghyllebert.

Of the Irish trio O’Loughlin is the most experienced, having won the King of the Mountains jersey last year.

He has three top five Rás finishes to his name and is also a double stage winner.

Cassidy, a former U-23 Irish champion, is another stage winner and held the yellow jersey for a stage in 2008.

Belfast native McConvey will be taking part in his first Rás, having switched from mountain biking to road racing at the start of the season.

Belgian rider Ghyllebert has shown his versatility in his introductory season for the An Post side and has been a regular fixture in team line up’s since the start of the season.

McNally will seek to become the second British rider in succession to win the Rás.

Team manager Kurt Bogaerts explained the thinking behind his team selection.

“I have picked a really strong all round line up, as the overall aim of the team this year is to compete in every category; Overall Classification, Young Rider, King of the Mountains, as well as for stage wins.”

“I didn’t want to put an emphasis on any rider or goal in particular, rather I have chosen a team who will work hard for each other. I feel very confident coming into this year’s Rás, we have been training very hard with this race in mind, so I’m upbeat about our chances of repeating the podium successes of ’08 and ’09.”

Former world number one cyclist and Academy supremo Sean Kelly is also expecting a good showing from his young team.

“The Rás is a race we specifically target every year, it is on home turf in front our sponsor’s and fans so we really want to perform. We have a bunch of talented young riders in the academy so this is a big chance for them to show how good they are.”

Meath man Mark Cassidy, who will be starting the Rás in his hometown of Dunboyne, is looking forward to getting the tour underway in front of his family.

“This season has been great from a personal point of view, I really feel like I have pushed on and I think my performances have been very consistent, which has allowed me to get a good run in,” he said.

Speaking of Cassidy, team manager Kurt Bogaerts said: “Mark is in good shape coming into the race, and has been riding well this season. It’s up to him replicate that form over the eight days and show everyone what he is capable of doing.”

This year’s FBD Insurance RÁS 8-Day International Cycle Race, which will take place from May 23-30, will see at least 10 countries represented and the emphasis will be on national, regional and top level sponsored amateur cycling teams.

An Post Sean Kelly Team - FBD Insurance Rás (Uci 2.2)

Mark Cassidy (IRL)

David O’Loughlin (IRL)

Connor McConvey (IRL)

Pieter Gyhllebert (BEL)

Mark McNally (UK)