An Post to sponsor green in Tour of Ireland

An Post, as Official Partner to the Tour of Ireland, will sponsor the green jersey this year in the race that will take place from August 27 to 31. This is the latest addition to An Post's expanding cycling sponsorship portfolio, which also includes sponsorship of the Sean Kelly Cycling Team.

An Post Chief Executive, Donal Connell announced the deal, which is slated to run for three years. "We are the official partner to the 2008 Tour of Ireland in association with Fáilte Ireland ... we are now involved in the hosting of a world class racing competition around Ireland."

Connell added, "I hope that large numbers of people will turn out to support the riders; certainly, the interest from other countries with participating teams will be huge. I am especially pleased that the An Post sponsored Sean Kelly Team will compete and hopefully succeed in bringing home the green jersey."

There will be three An Post Sprint Lines along the route and at the stage finishes each day. The prestigious An Post Green Jersey Points Competition will be won over these stretches. In 2007, this competition came down to the last sprint and it will be just as hard fought this coming August.