A team of Irish riders will compete in the 30th Anniversary of the Tour of Hokkaido 2016 (UCI 2.2), racing as the Spin 11 Dublin Team in the regional category in the three day race which takes place in Japan from the 1st – 3rd September.
Over the course of three days the riders will face four stages, including a 1km Time Trial and three mountainous stages centred around Sapparo City. The team is sponsored by Spin 11 Personalised Clothing, with Brian Connaughton as Team Manager.
Connaughton believes that the team will be a strong competitive one: “It’s great to see an Irish team competing abroad in a good quality international stage race. Competition for places in such events is a sure-fired way to strengthen the depth and quality of home based riders. I am looking forward to managing the Spin 11 Dublin Team in Hokkaido and am confident the lads will achieve positive results.”
Irish riders have tasted success in the race down through the years. Stephen Spratt won the race overall back in 1992, with David McCann also taking the overall honours in 2001. In addition, Paul Griffin and former Junior World Champion Mark Scanlon also took stage wins.
TEAM:
Chris McGlinchey
Daire Feeley
Ronan McLaughlin
Darragh O’Mahony
Craig McAuley
STAGES:
Prologue (1st September): 1km Sapparo City (Flat)
Stage Two (1st September): 111km Sapparo – Kutchan (Mountains)
Stage Three (2nd September): 180km Kutchan – Kutchan (Mountains)
Stage Four (3rd September): 219km Kutchan – Sapparo (Mountains)
