Max Stedman will roll out on stage one of the An Post Ras after coming into the squad for the injured Rob Partridge.
Partridge was set to skipper the team in Ireland but a crash in the Ronde van Overijssel saw him break his collarbone and two ribs.
Sports director Tim Elverson thought long and hard about who should replace the Welshman, who is likely to remain sidelined until late June, finally opting for Tour de Yorkshire hero Stedman.
The 21-year-old, from Crowthorne in Berkshire, finished 23rd on general classification in Yorkshire, as he mixed it with some of the world’s top climbers.
Now he will be looking to make his mark on the Emerald Isle, alongside Dexter Gardias, who finished fourth on the first stage last season and 34th overall.
George Atkins and Alex Richardson will make their Ras debuts, while the team’s firepower on the 21 categorised climbs will be boosted by the presence of Mitchell Webber. He said:
“We have an exciting team. It’s a shame we have lost Rob. He has done so well in the race in the past and has so much experience but you can’t do anything about injuries.
“Max is a very, very good rider, though. He proved that in Yorkshire. He may still only be a young lad but he knows a lot about the sport.
“We know Max and Dex are in very good form. Hopefully my legs are good, too, and I can help them wherever possible.”
The An Post Ras is a prestigious eight-day stage race, which holds UCI 2.2 status. The action begins at midday on Sunday, with a 146.1km dash from Dublin Castle to Longford.
Wednesday’s 151.8km stage from Bundoran to Buncrana includes five categorised climbs, while the queen stage on Friday features seven as riders battle over 132.1km from Dungloe to Donegal.
The winner will be crowned next Sunday, following a 129.4km scrap from Ardee to Skerries. Click here to read Mitchell Webber’s preview.
Find out more about the Ras at www.anpost.ie. You can follow the race via their Twitter feed and through our usual platforms.
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