A strong An Post Chain Reaction team will head to the Hauts-de-France region of Northern France for the start of the 64th edition of Ronde de l’Oise (UCI 2.2) which takes place from Thursday 8 June.
An Post Rás final stage winner Przemysław Kasperkiewicz will be back in action alongside Damien Shaw who finished in fifth place on GC at An Post Rás general classification fifth, Sean McKenna, Conor Hennebry and Mark Stewart.
The in-form team will compete against nineteen teams which will include a mixture of French club and regional teams, national teams including Great Britain and UCI Continental teams including BMC Development Team. The ceremonial start will take place at the Hotel du Départment, Beauvais and the peloton will cover no less than 700km over the course of the race.
With sixteen categorised climbs, it is a race that is more than likely set to suit tough climber Przemysław Kasperkiewicz who secured the King of the Mountains jersey in this year’s edition of An Post Rás.
Commenting on the team since their exceptional week in Ireland, Team Manager Kurt Bogaerts said: “Kasperkiewicz, Shaw and McKenna have had a break since An Post Rás. I would be hopeful of a good result in France this weekend. It is always a nice three-day race with some competitive teams taking part.”
Ronde de l’Oise has been a successful race for the An Post Chain Reaction team in the past, with wins in the overall in 2011 with Gediminas Bagdonas and 2015 with Joshua Edmondson.
Damien Shaw is the only rider with previous experience in the race which Bogaerts believes is a positive for the team: “He will be sure to pass on any knowledge he will have collected on previous editions.”
An Post Chain Reaction Sean Kelly Racing Team line-up:
Przemysław Kasperkiewicz (POL)
Damien Shaw (IRE)
Sean McKenna (IRE)
Conor Hennebry (IRE)
Mark Stewart (GBR)
