Caption: Riders Nick Coughlan, Dave Whitty, Greg Dempsey, Hugh Byrne and Brian Cullen at the Sign on Podium in Dunboyne co Meath, on day 1 stage 1.

Congratulations to the Wexford Cycling, Team Voice Grid, Barrow Wheelers Crew of Nick Coughlan, Dave Whitty, Greg Dempsey, Hugh Byrne and Brian Cullen, for completing 4 stages of the 2013 An Post Ras.  A Lack of race communication and the absence of the indicating broom, led to elimination of the team after stage 4, by an 80 second margin after completing the toughest stage 4 of the 2013 Ras.

Stage 4 was from Listowel Co Kerry to Glengarriff  County Cork taking in a 150 km stage. with 8 categorised climbs, including climbs at Lacka West, Crinny, Farranfore, Ladys View Killarney, Mols Gap, Garrane, the Healy Pass and Cooleraigh.

The previous  three stages covered Dunboyne to Longford, 135 km, Longford to Nenagh 160 km, Nenagh to Listowel 140 km. Average race speeds for Day 1 – 3 were 48-49 kmph and 45kmph on stage 4, over the 8 categorised climbs.

The designation of the An Post Ras, as UCI category 2.2 race, meant strict enforcement of a 20% time limit rule as is enforced in Continental professional only races.  However as the An Post Ras has historically been run for irish amateurs mixed with professional continental riders, the race is not a 100% professional rider race. The rider mix for the 2013 Ras was 18 professional teams and 18 irish county teams. However the race is governed by rules applicable to 100% professional rider races. On starting stage 5 , day 5, 18 profesional teams remained and 13 county teams remained.

Congratulations to the team for racing with the professionals for the four stages, and to the back room team of Manager Derek Webb, Mechanic Adrian Delaney and Physio Ken Blanche. The team would like to thank the team sponsors for their financial contributions and the backing  provided by several sponsors , with vehicles, food, equipment, nutrition and spares.

Sponsors for the Team came from the principal sponsor Voice Grid Gorey , Centra Rosslare, Sprint Design Gorey, Howlett Auto Developments Ballinaboola, Petopia Enniscorthy, Whitty Autobodies Ballinaboola, GlaxoSmith Kline. Team support came from Wexford Wheelers Cycling Club, South East Road Club ( Team Vehicle), Slaney Cycling Club ( Physio) and Barrow Wheelers Crew.

On behalf of the Voice Grid Team, a special thank you to Adrian Delaney and Derek Webb. To Adrian for making the decision in 2012 to take on the challenge for 2013,  and to Derek Webb, who worked tirelessly over the past 6 months, to bring all the team organisational  detail together, in order to provide a smooth operation for the riders during the days of the RAS.

Bualadh bos mór go a thabhairt duit.

Well done lads. Loch Gorman Abu.