As plans for An Post Rás na mBan 2014 gain pace, the organisers of Ireland's premier women's stage race are delighted to announce a partnership with Fuji Bikes for this year's event.
To celebrate the association, the winner of the 28th international women's stage race in Ireland will be presented with a Fuji Supreme – the brand’s top-of-the-line, women’s-specific, C10 high-modulus carbon frameset with patented RIB technology – at the conclusion of this year's five-day event in Ennis, County Clare on September 14th.
As one of the most consistent supporters of women's bike racing over the past 40 years, Fuji has established itself as one of the most important brands in world cycling with some of the top names in the sport having ridden their products to glory.
Included on a who's who of women's international cycling to have raced to success on Fuji bikes are double world road race champion Giorgia Bronzini, twice Olympic champion Kristin Armstrong and Germany's former world road race champion Judith Arndt.
Fuji currently supports the US-based women’s professional team TIBCO which last year counted Irish national road race champion and 2013 Rás na mBan runner-up Melanie Späth in their lineup.
This year the firm is well known to Irish fans as the bike supplier to the NetApp-Endura team of Sam Bennett and the Synergy Baku Cycling Project squad of Matt Brammieier, Connor McConvey and Philip Lavery.
Announcing the partnership with Fuji, An Post Rás na mBan race director Valerie Considine expressed her delight at attracting support from a major international bike manufacturer.
"I'd like to welcome Fuji to our event and I see this association as another excellent endorsement of the work we've done over the last ten years to reinforce the credibility of women's international bike racing in Ireland.
"The prize of a Fuji Supreme frame for the race winner is an excellent one and is another great incentive for the riders from all over the world who'll be racing on the roads of Clare next September."
Fuji Bikes CEO Pat Cunnane reaffirmed his company's commitment to women's cycling and looked forward to September's race in Ireland.
"At ASI, we’re committed to growing the role of women in our industry. I’ve spoken at several conferences about workplace demographics and opportunities to better address half of the market.
"And our VP of Marketing Karen Bliss, who’s now on the UCI’s Women’s Commission, has been advocating for equal prize money and an extended race calendar for women pro cyclists," explained Fuji President and CEO Pat Cunnane.
"So when we were approached about helping to sponsor Ireland's women's international stage race – an event showcasing and providing opportunity to some of the best female cyclists in world – it was a no brainer. Not to mention my love of the country and my Irish heritage."