Strong line up announced for Ras de Cymru

www.cyclingbargains.com racing team announces a strong line up for the Ras de Cymru in Wales from 2nd July – 6th July. “The team is made up of a mix of climbing, time trialling and sprinting abilities to deal with everything this race may throw at us,” said Team Manager Rod Freeman.

The team consists of sprint star Mike Cowland who recently swept to victory in the opening round of the NCRA summer race series, Carl Dyson who recently won stage 2 of the Leicester 2 day stage race, David Palmer fresh from his senior divisional road race championships and new signing Andy Swain who is making strong progress to return to his 2nd cat licence.

The Ras de Cymru boasts a £100,000 prize fund and starts at Llangybi on Wednesday 2nd July with a 4 mile time trial. This is an event 23 year old, ex junior national time trial champion Carl Dyson from Syston aims to do well in. The following day sees the race take to Abergavenny for a hilly 53mile race course which suits the powerful climbing style of Dave Palmer. The team then come together in the afternoon for an undulating 15 mile team time trial which new signing Andy Swain has recently shown he can be a real strength in when riding with the team to bring Mike Cowland forward in sprints. Next morning the race moves to Usk for a 68 miles road stage followed the next day by a further 60 mile road race stage into the Brecon Mountains. The final stage the next day ends with a mountain top finish after a gruelling 60 miles.

The race boasts ladies GB National squad headed up by ex-world champion Nicole Cooke with Sharon Laws and Emma Pooley, as well as Team Halfords Jessica Allen, Joanna Rowsell and Emma Trott. The rest of the male field also includes ex junior national champion Tim Wallis, Leicester 2 day overall winner Will Fox from Loughborough and 3rd placed overall Shane Leadley.