JULIAN WINN TO DEFEND HIS FBD MILK RAS TITLE.

Following consultations with the Department of Agriculture Expert Group on the control of Foot and Mouth Disease, FBD MILK RAS Organiser, Dermot Dignam, has announced last year's winner Welshman Julian Winn will, after all, be in the line-up for the big international race when it starts on Sunday 20th May.

A number of weeks ago invitations to all FMD affected countries were withdrawn in line with recommendations from the Department of Agriculture. However, with the general easing of restrictions Dignam received the go-ahead from the Expert Group to include teams from Britain, subject to a strict protocol of precautions being approved by the Expert Group and implemented by the race organisation.

Dignam, confirming Julian Winn will lead the Welsh team, stressed " a stringent regime of precautionary measures will need to be accepted by each individual team member before leaving the UK, with further measures on entry to Ireland and throughout the stay in Ireland" he added that "a limited number of other British teams may also be allowed to participate, again subject to the strict protocol".

With the promise of the best ever selection of foreign teams the inclusion of Winn and his Welsh team mates will certainly put it up to the Irish National Team in the quest for valuable qualifying points for World Cycling Championships and Olympic Games.

Irish Team Director, Declan Byrne, is expected to announce the team to represent Ireland in the coming few weeks.

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