Countdown to the Ras

With the FBD Insurance Ras staring on the 23rd May and with UCD having 5 riders in the event, the UCD blogging team based in Belfield in the School of Blogs building thought it was about time we unveiled the team to the Public.
We can now for the first time give the fans an in depth insight into these 5 talented riders who will go to battle with some of the most talented cyclists to have thrown their leg over a cross bar.
Fittingly we will start with the key cog in the machine. The starting point for all success. Quoted this week as saying...

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will"

Niall Dwyer aka "Skipper," will lead a team into the Ras as Team manager for the first time. Already this year he has led a team (with little success) into the Gorey international Stage race over Easter. Niall had a promising career ahead of him as a talented cyclist until he was taken down on way to victory in the renowned Bohermeen one day A3 classic. With a collarbone that now looks like spaghetti his own personal ambitions have had to take a back seat and he has focused solely on his teammates needs.
Niall is a man who knows how to organise. At age 12 he ran a 3km race for charity raising £26 and competing the course in a PB of 28mins. He has taken a week off work to support his teammates when they need him most. His attention to detail can be seen in the UCD rider handbook designed specifically by him outlining every bit of information our riders could possibly need to know each day. Niall will be waiting at the end of each stage making sure the UCD riders have the best recovery and increase their chances of competing in the toughest race Ireland has to offer.

The first rider we will look to cover has an old head on old shoulders.
Fergus Ryan (seen on left) enters his first Ras with a wealth of experience on his side. A multiple Iron Man he has beaten some of the best testers in Ireland on the TT bike and his strength was clear for all to see in the Corkman Stage race when he kept the race together riding constantly at the front. Most importantly Gus brings a calm head and BBQ organising skills that will be tested to the max in his home town of Skerries on the last day of the Ras May 30th.

Its always been an ambition for Gus to ride the Ras and he will fulfil that dream in just under 2 weeks time.

Later in the week we will give a further study into the other 4 riders that complete the team.