Adding to a range of international teams taking part in this year’s An Post Rás, two more overseas squads have joined the line-up for the UCI ranked event, which gets underway in just over two week’s time.
The Team Novo Nordisk development squad travel to the race on a mission to represent millions of diabetics worldwide via the five type 1 diabetic riders on the team.
This includes Irishman Daragh Campbell, from Drogheda. Daragh moved to the USA at the start of 2014 after getting a place on the team. He quickly clocked up four podium finishes including two wins at the Pisgah Omnium and two third places at the Georgia Games Road Race and Criterium.
Also on board are Frenchman Quentin Valognes, winner of three stages of the UCI Junior Tour de l’Abitibi in 2014, the 2015 Blue Goose Road Race Winner Emanuel Mini (Argentina), Mehdi Benhamouda (France), who picked up top five finishes in the Fouche Gap Road Race and the Redlands Amateur Criterium this year plus the Italian Umberto Poli.
“The Team Novo Nordisk development team is excited to race at An Post Rás,” stated the squad. “Our goals are to land a podium in a sprint stage and to place top ten in two or more stages. We will be looking for results from both Quentin and Mehdi in sprints and also to raise awareness with our local Irish rider, Daragh.”
The team’s goal is to prove that when controlled properly, type 1 diabetics can have big sporting careers and lead a normal life.
The recently-held Istrian Spring Trophy and the Joe Martin stage race are the two build-up events for the team prior to heading to Ireland.
Also set to make the trip prior to the May 17th start in Dunboyne is Team Idea, the Italian squad managed by former professional Alberto Elli. Last year it notched up numerous placing’s with Davide Ballerini, Matteo Collodel, Alessandro Pettiti, Riccardo Pichetta and Mirko Tedeschi.
This includes a memorable stage eight win by Ballerini at the Skerries finale and runner-up slots by Pettiti and Pichetta on stages two and three of the race.
Pettiti sat in third overall early on and wore the King of the Mountians Jersey during the event last year, eventually placing second to Markus Eibegger of Synergy Baku. Pichetta and Tedeschi were ninth and tenth overall. The squad placed third in the final international team ranking.
This time around Elli said that Pettiti will return, joined by former Quick Step rider Francesco Reda, past Sky and Lampre-Merida competitor Davide Vigano plus the young riders Marco Tizza and Matteo Malucelli.
“Our leader for general classification is Francesco Reda,” said Elli. “The team goal is to be in front every day and try to make a sprint finish with our sprinter Davide Vigano.”
He said that the all-Italian line-up would ride the Tour of Croatia, the Giro dell’Appennino and the Tour of Berna as part of its preparation.
