C’est une formation 100% Celte qui s’élancera la semaine prochaine sur le Tour de Bretagne féminin. L’équipe irlandaise DID Electrical Racing vient avec le podium complet de course en ligne d’Irlande 2013 : Siobhan McNamara, Mary Costelloe et la tenante du titre pour la deuxième année consécutive : Melanie Spath du team TIBCO.
L’équipe irlandaise DID Electrical Racing particpera au Tour de Bretagne féminin, une perspective qui ravit son attachée de presse Caroline Martinez : «Lorsque nous avons mis en place l’équipe en début d’année, nous avions envie d’envoyer une équipe féminine irlandaise sur les courses les plus difficiles en Europe, non seulement pour gagner de expérience, mais aussi pour montrer que le cyclisme féminin a progressé en Irlande et qu’il est plus compétitif que jamais. Nous avons de la chance d’avoir été en contact permanent avec la multiple championne d’Irlande Siobhan Horgan, qui a été notre mentor depuis la naissance de l’équipe. » L’équipe sera complétée par Amy Brice, une des fondatrices du Team DID, Michelle Geoghegan basée en Belgique, la Nantaise Clémence Copie et l’Ecossaise Julie Erskine.
La championne d’Irlande Melanie Spath sera facilement reconnaissable grâce à son maillot de championne blanc et vert. Elle est sans aucun doute le maillon le plus fort de cette équipe. « Nous ne voulons pas nommer de leader si tôt. Nous sommes là avant tout pour gagner de l’expérience et pour prouver que nos Irlandaises peuvent elles aussi être compétitives et ce, même au plus haut niveau. » L’équipe irlandaise est parrainée par DID Electrical, une chaine irlandaise d’électroménager. Ce premier voyage en France a aussi été rendu possible grâce au Europcar Irlande et Irish Ferries. Après le Tour de Bretagne, l’équipe se dirigera vers le Limousin pour participer au Tour Féminin du Limousin.
Retrouvez le team DID Electrical Racing sur facebook
[toggle title= »Tour Féminin de Bretagne UCI 2.2 – Juillet 11-14″ state= »open » ]Siobhan McNamara – IRL
Amy Brice – IRL
Melanie Spath – IRL
Mary Costelloe – IRL
Clémence Copie – FRA
Julie Erskine – GBR[/toggle]
[toggle title= »Tour Féminin du Limousin – UCI 2.2 Juillet 18-21″ state= »open » ]Siobhan McNamara – IRL
Amy Brice – IRL
Melanie Spath – IRL
Mary Costelloe – IRL
Michelle Goeghegan – IRL
Julie Erskine – GBR[/toggle]
[button color= »red » size= »big » link= »http:// » ]ENGLISH VERSION[/button]
The complete 2013 Irish podium will represent the DID Electrical Racing Team in line up for UCI French Races.
DID Electrical Racing Team is happy to announce their rosters for the much anticipated women’s Tour de Bretagne and Tour du Limousin taking place this July.
Leading the team will be DID Electrical Racing Team’s very own Siobhan McNamara and Amy Brice, both well-known on the Irish domestic scene. McNamara has just won the silver medal at the recent Irish Road Race National Championships.
In addition to its superstars, the team piloted again by Manager Stewart Carr, has beefed up its roster with major guests: Irish National Champion Mel Spath of Team Tibco, Belgium based super-domestique Michelle Goeghegan, and bronze medallist in this year’s Road Race, 22 year old Mary Costelloe. UK based Breton rider, Clémence Copie and Scottish pocket rocket Julie Erskine help round up this all celtic team that should impress even the most seasoned European pros. The team members met Copie and Erskine during the Rás na mBan last year and said they were impressed not only by their strength but also by their amazing fighting spirit.
All seven riders have been racing abroad this year in stage stages. Brice and McNamara also headed to Belgium to take part in the Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik guesting for pro team GSD Gestion Kallisto. They were able to rub shoulders with some of women they will be competing against this July.
Both races are ranked UCI 2.2, and each are comprised of three road stages and an Individual Time Trial. Major international teams such as Lotto Belisol Ladies, GSD Gestion Kallisto, Rusvelo and national squads from the USA, Canada, and Australia will compete. Last year the Tour du Limousin was won by reigning world champion Marianne Vos, which gives you an idea of the quality of riders the DID girls will be up against.
This two week trip to France has been made possible by our sponsor DID Electrical who have supported the team from the start. Europcar Ireland has also come on board and will be providing the team with a much needed second vehicle in France while Irish Ferries are sailing our team car and crew to Brittany. The team is hugely grateful for all the support we have received.
Team Press Officer Caroline Martinez :
“When we set up the team at the start of the year, this is exactly what we had in mind. We wanted to send Irish girls to the toughest races in Europe, not only for experience but also to show off that women’s cycling in Ireland has grown and is more competitive than ever. We are grateful to have been continuously in touch with Siobhan Horgan, who has been our mentor since the birth of the team.”
“We are delighted to bring such a strong team to the Tour de Bretagne and Tour du Limousin. No Irish County team has ever sent a squad to Europe the way we are doing it this year. All of our core riders work full time and it’s not always easy to get the time off work but we have been lucky enough to find the best guests possible to compliment the team this summer.”
“Mel Spath will definitely stand out as she rides in her Irish champion’s jersey. She is probably our strongest rider but we don’t want to name a team leader so early. We are going to these races to gain experience and to prove that yes, our Irish girls can be competitive even at the highest level.”
The two UCI 2.2 stages races will take place in a period of 10 days between July 11th to 21st.
You can follow DID Electrical Racing on facebook
[toggle title= »Tour Féminin de Bretagne UCI 2.2 – Juillet 11-14″ state= »open » ]Siobhan McNamara – IRL
Amy Brice – IRL
Melanie Spath – IRL
Mary Costelloe – IRL
Clémence Copie – FRA
Julie Erskine – GBR[/toggle]
[toggle title= »Tour Féminin en Limousin – UCI 2.2 Juillet 18-21″ state= »open » ]Siobhan McNamara – IRL
Amy Brice – IRL
Melanie Spath – IRL
Mary Costelloe – IRL
Michelle Goeghegan – IRL
Julie Erskine – GBR[/toggle]