Madison Genesis are the latest team, along with Team Wiggins to be announced for An Post Rás. Madison-Genesis have had success in the race before, with Liam Holohan winning the penultimate stage of the 2014 edition. Manager Mike Northey states that the line-up will be confirmed closer to the event, but gives a provisional squad. Taking to the Irish roads will be Matt Holmes, Erick Roswell, Taylor Gunman, Alex Blain and Joe Evans.
Roswell and Holmes have both ridden An Post Rás in the past and will be able to draw on that experience of what is a very unpredictable and unique race. Holmes was third on a stage and seventh overall last year. He recently finished fifth overall in the Tour de Yorkshire, faring well against riders on World Tour teams. Roswell took a fine third place on stage five of last year’s Tour of Britain.
Kiwi rider Gunman was Oceania Continental Championship Road Race champion in 2015 and also won the New Zealand Cycle Classic the same year. Frenchman Blain was winner of the Tour de Normandie in 2011 and the Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic the following year.
“As a team we don’t want to come to the Rás as just pack fillers,” says Northey. “We want to animate the race and go for stage wins or the overall general classification. The latter will depend on how the next few weeks goes for us, including any possible injuries. Both Erick and Matt Holmes have done well in the Rás before so we would be looking to them for the potential yellow jersey. The remaining guys will hopefully be hunting stages.”
Twelve overseas teams have now been announced for An Post Rás teams including squads from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Slovenia, the USA and Great Britain.
Madison-Genesis (Britain) – provisional:
Matt Holmes (23, Britain)
Erick Roswell (26, Britain)
Taylor Gunman (26, New Zealand)
Alex Blain (36, France)
Joe Evans (20, Britain)
