As you all know our friends in New Ross, Barrow Wheelers, have entered a team in this years An Post Rás. For a small club to undertake this is a huge commitment and a fantastic achievement. We salute everyone involved in the brave journey and will be following their progress avidly next week. Loch Garman Abú!
Press release below;
Wexford Cycling teams up with Voicegrid to enter a team in the 2013 Ras Tailteann.
The Ras Tailteann, or better known as simply the Ras, is a gruelling 8 day international pro-am stage race around Ireland. Now in its 61st year, the Ras has gwoning in international importance in the recent years and has attracted riders from all over the world. Past winners have gone onto preform on the world stage, like the 2009 winner, German rider Tony Martin. Who went on to win stages in the Tour de France and also become the world Time Trial champion.
Voicegrid, is the brainchild of Wexford man , Jim Hughes, recent winner of Entrepuneur Of The Year and CEO of Innovate. Jim was a massive supporter of Wexford Cycling and sponosred the team back in 2010, again in the Ras.
Voicegrid, based in Gorey is a leading Telecommunications company that supplies an all in one solution to a businesses communications needs. They can install or use exsisting communictions technology to offer real benefits and savings to any size of business.
Team Voicegrid, is looking to compete in the Ras which starts this sunday in Dunboyne and finsihes 8 days later in Skerries. Durning this time the riders will have completed 1100km of racing over some of the steepest and highest roads in the land. Amazingly for Team Voicegrid Wexford all on the squad are part time cyclists, who will be competing against top professionals, they only match the pros on their absoulte love and dedication for the sport of cycling.
The team is managed by Derek Webb of Gorey, his 4th Ras. Along side him is the Irish Team mechanic , Adrain Delaney from New Ross. Ken Blanche the physio from Ballon and Michael Noonan , nutrianist from Wexford Wheelers. The team assembled is some of the best in the County, Nick Coughlan, Brian Cullen, Greg Dempsey, Dave Whitty & Hugh Byrne. All hail from Barrow Wheelers cycling club in New Ross.
The riders have been training for this snce last Septemeber and have brought in top ireland coach Paddy Doran to help them along and try juggle a family life, children and 20 hours a week of training.
Its now crunch time and the riders are really up for it. You can follow their progress on Twitter #teamvoicegrid