Cyclingpost.com - Slipstream and Recycling to be present in Ireland

Slipstream and Recycling to be present in Ireland

By Tommy Campbell
Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:16:29

DUBLIN, Jun 21 (CP) - Cycling interest in the forthcoming Failte Ireland 'Tour' is certainly gaining pace with two more slots being allocated to American outfit 'Team Slipstream' and the very popular 'Recycling.co.uk.'

The event is schedued for the 22nd to the 26th of August with a start in Kilkenny and finish in Dublin.

"We have got two interesting teams from different parts of the world that add another dimension to the race," said event organiser Alan Rushton.

"Team Slipstream is a new United States based ProContinental team who are just starting to come to the fore. The team had its first UCI stage win last week in the Tour de Beauce in Canada when Ian MacGregor won the stage into Quebec and Danny Pate was third overall," said Alan who was very much the driving force with the now President of the Union Cycliste Pat McQuaid. Both were instrumental in the Kellogg and the Nissan Classics along with the Tour de France that started in Ireland in 1998.

Team Slipstream is managed by former professional Jonathan Vaughters. The American helped Lance Armstong win his first Tour de France with the U.S. Postal team in 1999. The talented climber has also won two stages of the Dauphine Libere in 1999 and 2000, both on the torturous Mont Ventoux.

Recycling.co.uk is one of Britain's top teams led by world and Olympic medalist Chris Newton.

"Newton will head up the Recycling.co.uk challenge. Of course he is already well known in Ireland after his double victory in the FBD Insurance Rás in 2003 and 2005. The rest of the team are talented and already showing potential to be big names in the future.

"Also John Herity, Recycling.co.uk team manager is well known to Irish fans, said Alan.

"I rode in the Nissan Classic years ago," said the former British road and track Olympian. "The team will enjoy the race immensely, especially the stage into Cork where they are scheduled to go up St Patrick's Hill twice. We found that the crowds in Ireland always appreciated the spectacle of cycle racing even if they were first time spectators and you couldn’t wish for a finer welcome anywhere."