With just over a week to go to An Post Rás na mBan, British Cycling have confirmed a strong Great Britain lineup for the 12th edition of the event.

The pre-eminent nation in world track cycling over the past ten years has entered five riders from its Olympic Senior Academy programme, all of whom have extensive pedigree on track and road.

Reigning British National Under-23 Road Race champion Mel Lowther leads the squad, the 21-year-old from Wakefield returning to Ireland's top stage race having first raced in Ireland as a teenager in 2015.

Abigail Dentus from Surrey is another former Rás na mBan competitor returning as is Ellie Dickinson from Carlisle, a World Cup Gold medallist in the Team Pursuit last season and gold medallist in the European Track Championships in July.

2016 World Junior Scratch Race Champion Becky Raybould from Weymouth and Megan Barker from Cardiff complete the all-star lineup.

The British team will be managed by Welshman Julian Winn who won the men's Rás in 2000.

Meanwhile the Isle of Man selection for next week's event includes British National Under 23 Time Trial champion Anna Christian.

Joining her will be two of the strongest riders on the UK road racing scene, Laura Massey - an An Post Rás na mBan veteran - and Ejay Harris, an army officer who renowned as a circuit race and time trial specialist.

The team is completed by Kathryn Priest and Tara Ferguson and will be managed by another men's Rás winner, Andrew Roche, the victor in 1997.

Facing the national selections will be trade and club teams from all over Europe and further afield as well as a number of regional selections from France, the Netherlands and Ireland.

It will be the second successive year that the race will be based in County Kilkenny in Ireland’s Ancient East.

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