Women's Teams Announced for Tour de l'Ardeche and Rás na mBan
8/28/09 - September will be a busy month for women's cycling in Ireland, with the announcement of a full Irish Team which will race in the UCI 2.2 event, Tour de l'Ardeche, in France.
The Team will be headed by Siobhan Dervan, who is currently demonstrating the form that had her in the sprint for 6th place at the World Championships last year. US based Touchstone rider Olivia Dillon will also strengthen the team, along with current Irish National Champion Heather Wilson.
Following impressive performances in Belgium last weekend three of our development riders are completing the team. Michelle Geoghegan has been racing in Belgium throughout the summer, and is looking forward to testing herself on a bigger stage. Fran Meehan is hoping to repeat the form that kept her in a break with some of the top International riders last weekend.
Fiona Meade, who competed in the Tour of New Zealand earlier this year, and also demonstrated good form in Belgium last weekend, completes the team of six.
Richie McCauley is once again the team manager, and Jenny McCauley will be the masseur.
Unfortunately this competition clashes with Ireland's only women's stage race, Rás na mBan. Despite this we will be fielding a strong Irish Development Team in the competition which is sponsored by Sneem Hotel.
This team will have a mix of experience, including 2008 winner Louise Moriarty and Kate Rudd, who is known for her strong sprinting ability. The team will be completed with Adrienne McCarthy, who has been racing strongly in the open races this year, and Heather Boyle, national pursuit champion.
This team will hope to be strong enough to retain the title won by Louise last September, but will have their work cut out for them, with the strength of teams travelling over, and some strong and experienced Irish teams.
Last years Queen of the Hills, Linda Ringlever, will be travelling once more, as part of the 6 person Moving Ladies team, which also includes Emma Trott who has been massively impressive on the continent this season.
Herman Schenk, our friend from Alkmaar, will be bringing two women’s teams. The newly formed Batavus Ladies Cycling Team will be strengthened by the inclusion of Anne de Wildt and Anneloes Stoelwinder, the latter was the winner at the Sneem Hotel Track GP last July.
The UK Police Force will also be represented in Sneem, with a 4 person team of women who have been mixing it up with the best in GB races. Formerly known as Cogee Saar, the re-named Team Bike Aid team will be headed once more by Caroline van Petegem, and are always strong contenders.
Squadra Donne/Bikefood/Luciano Cycles have a 4 person team, which will be lead by Jon Miles, and London Dynamo have a 5 person team entered.
Of course the domestic teams will have a thing or two to say on their home turf… and strong Lakeside Wheelers team and Usher/Irish Road Club teams have also declared. Sarah Piner and Wendy Bates have been riding strong for Lakeside Wheelers in the National League races, and also been performing well in GB events, and the Usher team will include the super Women’s Commission chairperson, Valerie Considine, and current multiple national record holder on the track, Gillian McDarby.
Irish Elite Team for Tour de l'Ardeche:
•Siobhan Dervan
•Olivia Dillon
•Heather Wilson
•Michelle Geoghegan
•Francine Meehan
•Fiona Meade
Team Manager:
Richie McCauley
Team Masseur:
Jenny McCauley
Irish Development Team for Rás na mBan:
◦Louise Moriarty
◦Kate Rudd
◦Adrienne McCarthy
◦Heather Boyle
Team Manager:
Timmy Barry
Team Mechanic:
Gary McNulty
Technorati tags:
cycling news,
touchstone