This Friday sees the return of elite city-centre cycling to Belfast, as The Halfords Tour Series races into the city for an action packed hour of professional racing. Riders from ten teams, including Team Ireland and the AN Post Sean Kelly cycling team will do battle from 19.30 onwards in the first of a two-race Series that takes in Belfast and Dublin. Provincial teams from Cycling Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connacht will also be taking part in The Halfords Tour Series races, as the teams fight it out for the right to be crowned Halfords Tour Series champions.
Among the riders taking part will be multiple Irish Champion David O’Loughlin, rising star of Irish cycling Philip Lavery and former FDB Insurance RAS winner Stephen Gallagher.
Martyn Irvine from Newtownards will be racing for Team Ireland, and is looking forward to racing on home roads.
“It’s terrific”, said Irvine. “I can’t wait to show off the Irish jersey at home. I think it’s been coming a long while for Belfast, so it should be a good show.
“It’ll be a nice big carnival atmosphere with everyone out, so it’ll be good to see.”
Irvine has been racing for Team Ireland in the ten-round Halfords Tour Series in England, and believes that will be ideal preparation for the Belfast and Dublin races.
“It’s good to do it and get your eyes open to see where you need to be at and what you need to be doing. It’s perfect preparation.”
Richill based Orchard Wheelers rider and top sprinter Simon Williams is another member of the Team Ireland line-up.
“It’s probably the first time I’ll have been racing in Belfast, certainly the city centre,” said Williams. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a criterium in the centre.
It’s a good thing for the city and the people of Northern Ireland. Hopefully it should be a good show and we’ll do ourselves proud.”
Like Irvine, Williams has also been racing for Team Ireland in England and thinks that will help him and the rest of the team achieve good results in Belfast and Dublin.
“We’ve got a major advantage against the rest of the Irish riders and the AN Post riders coming into this style of racing, so hopefully it’ll be good for us.”
Former Commonwealth Games medallist and winner of The Halfords Tour Series Canary Wharf Tony Gibb will be leading the charge of the four English teams taking part, as he captains the CyclePremier.com – Metaltek team.
Teammate Andrew Magnier is excited by the prospect of racing in Belfast and Dublin.
“I’m really looking forward to it, it’s going to be quite a hard weekend of racing with the two events back-to-back.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing what it is like to race in Northern Ireland and Ireland, and I’m expecting a lot of people will come to watch, so it should be a great atmosphere.”
Team Raleigh, Sigma Sport – Specialized and Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta will be the other three teams contesting the two races.
Uniquely, The Halfords Tour Series focuses on the teams rather than individual riders. The winning team will be the outfit that claims the most points from the two-events, with points awarded on a 10 down to 1 basis according to each squads finishing position.
Each races lasts for one hour plus five laps, while there will also be three intermediate races during each evening’s event in the Boardman Bikes Sprint competition, that will see the best sprinter of the two-round Series crowned in Dublin on the Saturday night.
The Halfords Tour Series Belfast takes place at 19.30 on Friday 18th June, with support events from earlier in the day including the Travelwise Commuter Relay at 19.00. The main race starts at the front of City Hall and is based upon a one kilometre circuit taking in many central Belfast streets including Donegall Square South, May Street, Seymour Street and Chichester Street.
The Halfords Tour Series Dublin takes place at 18.00 on Saturday 19th June, with a circuit based in the Temple Bar area of the city, beginning on Lord Edward Street at 18:00 and including Dame Street and Eustace Street. © Copyright 2010 IrishCycling.com

Fresh from their FBD Insurance Rás heroics the An Post Sean Kelly team are back in action at the Wavre-Rijmenam this weekend. The team returned to their ‘home from home’ base in Belgium earlier this week and face their first race back in the country on Sunday.
Rás stagewinner and King of the Mountains victor Mark Cassidy is one of two Irishmen in the team, Matt Brammeier being the other. Liverpudlian Mark McNally and Belgians Kim Borry, Stijn Minne and Maxim Debusschere complete the line up.
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts was looking to build on last weeks great results to ensure the side keeps their momentum going.
“I was especially delighted for Cassidy when he won stage seven, (of the Rás) as it meant so much to him. He is full of confidence at the moment so I expect a big performance from him again this weekend.”
“Last week was great for everyone, but it’s in the past. We want to keep improving for the second half of the season and it starts from Sunday.” Bogaerts added.

An Post Sean Kelly team rider Ronan McLaughlin won King of the Mountains at yesterday’s Circuit de Wallonie in Belgium. The Donegal man produced a series of strong rides on the climbs to win the title. It was a good day out for McLaughlin as he finished 8th overall, only 36 seconds back from overall winner Thomas Degand from Belgium.
Fellow Irishman Matt Brammeier also produced a impressive performance, finishing 32nd overall, while Maxim Debusschere was best placed of the Belgian contingent back in 58th.
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts was very pleased with McLaughlin’s performance. “Ronan has been riding well this season and I’m delighted to see him win King of the Mountains today. He was consistent on all the climbs and produced a brilliant performance over the whole race. It is great that he is coming into good form just ahead of the Rás.”
Next up for the An Post team is the Bavatus Prorace in the Netherlands. McLaughlin is again named in the team, alongside Brammeier and Meath man Mark Cassidy. Bogaerts is hoping for another good showing.
“The (three week) break was good for the team and we looked fresh on Sunday. We have this race and one more next week before the Rás. I’m looking for strong performances in both races, so we are in good shape when we arrive in Ireland.”

Kenny Lisabeth was a fine 16th in GP Denain

Frenchman Denis Flahaut (ISD Continental Team) sprinted to victory in the GP de Denain Porte du Hainaut race today, beating Florian Vachon (Bretagne - Schuller), Enrico Rossi (Ceramica Flaminia) and a bunch of 39 other riders to the line.
An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team rider Kenny Lisabeth was a fine 16th, while Pieter Ghyllebert was 22nd. Maxim de Busschere was also in the front group, placing 41st.
Connor McConvey was the sole Irish rider listed as finishing the 1.1-ranked French event. He came home in a group just behind the main bunch, placing 58th. He was 14 seconds behind Flahaut.

After today’s gruelling race in Belgium the team head to France tonight.

Niko Eeckhout of the An Post Sean Kelly team was again heavily involved in the action at today’s De Brabantse Pijl in Belgium. The veteran sprinter, who recovered from a recent head injury to take part, was one of a six man group which broke away from the Peloton and at one stage had built up a healthy 8:30 lead over the mountainous course.
Eeckhout was eventually the architect of his own downfall as the blistering pace he and the breakaway group had set wasn’t sustainable and he ultimately dropped out of the race with 50k to go.
It was a bad day for the An Post outfit as no member of the team completed the race, this included Irishmen; Mark Cassidy, Ronan McLaughlin, Connor McConvey and Matt Brammeier.
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts was disappointed with the showing, but he conceded the team looked tired after a hectic schedule recently.
“I was a bit disappointed with how a few of the guys raced today, although I think this was down to a couple of reasons. It was a difficult race at a high level and it looked like some of the guys were quite tired. We are coming to the end of a long bunch of races, whilst many of the other teams had guys out there who hadn’t raced much recently and looked a lot fresher.”
Luckily the team have a chance to bounce back immediately, at the Grand Prix de Denain in France tomorrow.
“Although the team is almost the same for tomorrow, the actual style of the race will suit us a lot better (than today’s race). Today was very mountainous and demanding, whilst tomorrow isn’t as hilly.” Bogaerts added.

Niko Eeckout was in an 8 man breakaway group, which at one stage had a 6 minute lead at today's Scheldeprijs. The peloton eventually caught up & Mark Cassidy was again best placed of the An Post team, coming in 42nd. Kenny Lisabeth (62nd) Maxim De Busschere (95th) Matt Brammeier (137th) Eeckhout (146th) Pieter Ghyllebe...rt (157th) while Mark McNally and Ronan McLaughlin DNF. Next up the Grand Prix Pino Cerami tomorrow!

The An Post team are back on 'home turf' (Belgium) this week and will contest in tomorrow’s Scheldeprijs, then the following day (Thurs) they will take part in Grand Prix Pino Cerami. Irishmen Mark Cassidy and Ronan McLaughlin will take part in both races. Manager Kurt Bogaerts said "Tomorrow’s race is on flat road for... almost all of the way. I expect there to be another big bunch finish, provided it doesn’t rain.”

In a mass bunch finish today at today's Rund Um Koln in Germany Mark Cassidy was best placed of the An Post team in 28th. Ronan McLaughlin was 38th, Benny de Schrooder 56th and Kim Borry 61st and all of them finished within 10 seconds of the winner Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank). Meanwhile Kim Borry was also the sole fin...isher of the An Post team (27th) in last Saturday's Hel Van Het Mergelland in the Netherlands.

Look out for the An Post Gorey 3 day cycle race over the weekend. There was a huge demand for entries which reached capacity in February! 180 cyclists take part in the 44th running of the event and we are looking forward to a competitive race. Have a Happy Easter to all our fans!
 

Niko Eeckhout was at the forefront of everything in today's final stage but was just unable to hold off the chasing peloton. Best placed of the An Post team today was Liverpudlian Mark McNally in 35th. Overall Pieter Ghyllebert was best placed in 34th, followed by Eeckhout in 51st and Mark McNally in 68th. Next up is t...he Hel van het Mergelland in Holland (3rd April).

Niko Eeckhout of the An Post team finished in eight place at today's 3 day race, the KBC-Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde in Belgium. He lies 55 seconds behind race leader Steve Chainel (BBOX Bouygues Telecom). The race starts a hectic schedule of 3 races in a week for the Sean Kelly outfit. They will also race in the Neth...erlands and Germany and Belfast man Connor McConvey will take part in all three.

Pieter Ghyllebert of the An Post Sean kelly team finished 25th in today's classic - the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen. The young Belgian rode excellently throughout and finished only 3 minutes behind race winner Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) with Tom Boonen (Quick Step) in 2nd and Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Sky) in 3rd.

Pieter Ghyllebert was the sole finisher from the An Post team in 77th place yesterday, in what was a disappointing race for the Sean Kelly outfit. Team manager Kurt Bogaerts is understandably looking to put the result aside and concentrate on the second classic on Sunday. "We have to forget about this result and focus ...on the weekend where I am sure we will put in a positive showing."

The An Post team are hoping to go one better than Niko Eeckhout’s second place finish last Sunday with a victory in either of the two Belgian classics this week. First up is tomorrow’s 1 day road race the Dwars door Vlaanderen. In the team are Irishmen Mark Cassidy and Conor McConvey. On Saturday (27th) the team will c...ontest in the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen with Cassidy and McConvey joined on the team by Ronan McLaughlin.

Niko Eeckhout was just beaten into 2nd place by Vacansoleil's Jens Mouris in this afternoon's Eneco Ronde van het Groene Hart in The Netherlands. The Dutch rider staged an audacious late-race attack to win, finishing
11 seconds ahead of Niko. Ronan McLaughlin finished best of the Irish pair, in 71st.

Pieter Ghyllebert 12th

Belgian rider Pieter Ghyllebert was best placed of the An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team in today’s Nokere-Koerse, taking a fine 12th place in the semi-Classic.
The 192.9 kilometre race was won by Jens Keukeleire (Cofidis), who beat Kris Boeckmans (Topsport Vlaanderen-Colnago), Bobbie Traksel (Vacansoleil Pro Cyclingteam) and 88 other riders in a big bunch gallop.
Ghyllebert’s team-mate Mark McNally also finished in the peloton, placing 67th, while Ronan McLaughlin came in 25 seconds back in 83rd place.
Team sprinter Niko Eeckhout had hoped to make a successful return after recent injury but hit the deck ten kilometres from the finish. He was not listed as finishing the race.

Niko Eeckhout in crash the Nokere Koerse

Niko & Pieter were involved in a high speed crash 10km from the end of the Nokere Koerse (Bel. 1.1.) today. Pieter managed to recover and finish 12th. 21 year-old Belgian neo-pro Jens Keukeleire (Cofidis) was the overall winner in a hectic sprint finish, his third win of the season after just two months of racing as a professional.

A mixed weekend for the An Post team last weekend
Niko Eeckout was in fine form again but his race was curtailed by a knee injury on the final day. Pieter Ghyllebert finished best of the An Post team in 21st after an 8th placed finish on Sun. Matt Brammeier also finished 25th in Sunday's one day race. Paidi O'Brien al...so reaggravated a knee injury and wasn't able to take part.

The team’s great start to the season continues as Niko Eeckhout was just edged out in today's 2nd stage. He was pushed by fellow competitor Van Hummel (Skil) which ruined his chance of winning the stage, however he did manage to hold onto 5th place. He remains 9th in the overall standings. The An Post team was also in...volved in another one day race, the Vlaamse Pijl, in Belgium today - Connor McConvey finished 25th.

"The preparation is over"
Team Manager Kurt Bogaerts sums up the end another fine week in the saddle for the An Post team after a great overall performance in the Volta. Pieter Ghyllebert ended a great week finishing 46th overall. Alberto Contador was the overall winner. "Now we can look forward to some classic races i...n Belgium" added Kurt before the team began the long drive back to the base in Belgium.

Pieter Ghyllebert had another good day in the saddle, he was to the front of the peloton again, finishing 24th in today stage, which was won by Belgian Sebastien Rosseler ( RadioShack team). Ghyllebert remains the highest ranked An Post rider in the GC, lying in 39th going into the final stage,01:57 off leader Conta...dor. Ronan McLaughling is best of the Irish, in 111th spot

VOLTA AO ALGARVE: CASSIDY AND O’LOUGHLIN FINISH IN MAIN BUNCH

Irish riders Mark Cassidy and David O’Loughlin both finished in the main bunch on their first day of racing in 2010, crossing the line five seconds behind winner Benoît Vaugrenard (Francaise Des Jeux) on stage one of the Volta ao Algarve.
Joan Horrach (Team Katusha) was second, three seconds back, while André Greipel (Team HTC - Columbia) led home the peloton for third place.
Neither Cassidy nor O’Loughlin sprinted for the line, being content to roll in as part of that main bunch. Their Belgian team-mate Pieter Ghyllebert also finished in the same time, while the third Irishman in the race, Ronan McLaughlin, was a further 11 seconds back, as was the Belgian Kim Borry. McLaughlin is also riding his first event of the season.
The remaining riders on the team, Belgians Benny De Schrooder (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) and Niko Eeckhout (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) were further back.
The race also marked the season debut of Tour de France champion Alberto Contador. While he has not done any serious racing since last year’s Tour, he had enough form to clip away inside the final two kilometres. He was hauled back and then Vaugrenard made his move, jumping hard and holding on to the line.
 

An Post-Sean Kelly awarded final Omloop Het Nieuwsblad wildcard spot

An Post-Sean Kelly has been awarded the final wildcard slot for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. In addition, Team Vorarlberg-Corratec has been replaced by Verandas Willems in the opening race of the Belgian season on February 27.
The race will feature 25 teams, including 13 ProTour teams, 10 Professional Continental, and the two Continental teams.
Race organiser Wm Van Herreweghe announced the final team line-up, saying that An Post-Sean Kelly's recent performances, “have managed to totally convince me. Niko Eeckhout and his team are clearly starting the season very ambitiously and deserved a place in the first Belgian race of the season,” he told the Belga news agency.
At the recent Etoile de Besseges, Eeckhout and Pieter Ghyllebert each brought in a third place and second place, before Eeckhout won the final stage.

The Belgian-based Continental team is happy to be in the race. “We had only a commitment for Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in the opening weekend at home,” said sport manager Kurt Bogearts. “Now there is the Omloop. We certainly won't be lacking in motivation to ride these two races.”

Van Herreweghe also said that the Austrian Professional Continental Team Vorarlberg-Corratec had told him it would not ride the race, to which it had received a wildcard invitation. Its place was given to the Belgian Continental team Verandas Willems.