Ireland’s most famous stage race, the Rás Tailteann, returns this Wednesday for it’s 69th edition, starting in Tullamore and finishing in Bective on Sunday, as riders take on five stages in pursuit of the famous George Plant Trophy.
With stage racing a rarity in the UK, the race forms an important part of the calendar for UK elite teams.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
What is it?
A UCI 2.2 ranked race until 2018, it was forced to take a break in 2019 due to a lack of sponsorship, returning in 2022 as a non-UCI event.
Last year, Irishman Dillon Corkery added his name to a prestigious list of former winners, including Stephen Roche (1979), and more recently Tony Martin (2007) and Lukas Pöstlberger (2015).
As well as the General Classification, there is a Points Classification, won last year by Wheelbase CabTech Castelli’s Matt Fox, with points available at stage finishes and intermediate sprints, as well as the King of the Hills competition, with the number of points available at the 18 categorised climbs along the route varying with their difficulty.
This year there are nine British-based squads taking part in the race, together with a CC Isle of Man team.
Route
Riders will cover 784.8km of what are described as ‘spectator friendly’ roads across the five stages, with 18 categorised climbs punctuating the route, including two Category One passages, the toughest in the race.
A rare stage race for riders on UK elite teams, it offers both opportinites and challenges, the fatigue towards the end of the week something some will have not experienced before. Like most races in the UK, expect stages to start fast and remain relatively uncontrolled, the rolling nature of the stunning Irish landscape the perfect ground for attacking riders to make the difference.
With the obvious lack of mountainous terrain, the race will be won not only on strength but also tactical nous, as demonstrated by Corkery’s victory coming courtesy of a final day breakaway raid last year. Every second could count in a race set to reward aggression.
Stage 1 | Tullamore to Killmallock | 147.6km | Weds 22 May
Taking in two Category 3 ascents on the way to the first ever stage finish in Kilmallock, County Limerick, the day looks fairly straightforward on paper. However, twisting, technical roads that punctuate the latter part of the stage could favour a breakaway as the fight for the first leader’s jersey takes shape.
Stage 2 | Kanturk to Sneem | 183.8km | Thu 23 May
The Queen stage comes early in the race, with six categorised climbs along the route to the coast promising to deliver an epic stage.
The race crosses the first category Ballaghisheen Pass with over 80km still to race, the 5km climb averaging 5% sure to split the group ahead of the second category Coomikista Pass, another long climb over 6km with a 3% average gradient, where further splits should occur as the race takes in the famous Ring of Kerry road. Reaching the coast with stunning views, the race then changes direction as it heads towards the finish, a 16km circuit including the third category Letterfinish Climb (1.7km at 3.7%), the summit of which is located with just 6km to go.
The winner will be a worthy one and today’s result will go a long way to deciding the winner of the race.
Stage 3:| Kenmare to Cahir | 154.8km | Fri 24 May
The race begins it’s quest back across to the east of the country, with the organisers marking this stage down as an oppurtinity for the sprinters, despite three third category climbs along the way, due to the fast nature of the roads the race travels on.
Stage 4: Horse and Jockey to Kildare Town: 139km
A fascinating stage, the route contains no less than five categorised climbs, all coming in a 30km section, ending with a fast 70km run-in to Kildare Town.
The climbs include the Category One Gorteen ascent, reaching gradients of almost 10% over its 1.9km, although it is the constant nature of the climbs in that 30km which will do the damage; an ideal place for riders to escape and put pressure on their general classification rivals. Can they outrun the sprinters into Kildare?
Stage 5: Maynooth to Bectare: 155.6km
The final stage is a flat affair on paper, taking in just two third category climbs on the way to three laps of the 14km Bectare finishing circuit, however with the overall victory on the line, anything could happen.
A similar stage last year saw Dillon Corkery wrestle the leader’s jersey from Conor McGoldrick, taking over two minutes from the Londoner as part of an audacious breakaway.
Riders to watch
Although it is no longer a UCI race, the Ràs is still an excellent shop window for riders as they look to progress in their careers. Last year’s winner Dillon Corkery earned a ride with French Continental outfit St. Michel-Mavic-Auber93, with Points Classification winner Matt Fox heading to France with CC Étupes.
Corkery returns to defend his crown, again with the Irish National Team who also host Trinity Racing’s Dean Harvey, the Belfast rider impressing at last year’s Lincoln Grand Prix.
Daire Feeley (All Human-VeloRevolution) is another home hope. The 27-year-old has been a winning machine in Irish elite racing this year and won the Rás in 2022. Jason Kenny is another Irish rider to watch, having won the Brian O’Loughlin Memorial last weekend – where Feeley was second – the latest round of the Irish Road National Series.
Feeley celebrates with his teammates after winning the 2022 edition. Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Two UCI Continental teams make the journey to Europe for the race. Bodywrap Men’s Cycling Team have been in the UK for a number of weeks now in preparation for this race, the Chinese squad’s results steadily improving over their stay. Tour of Qinghai Lake stage winner Li Boan will lead the line for Simon Cope’s Continental Team, who should arrive in Ireland in excellent shape.
The other UCI team taking to the start is Team Skyline, the US outfit home of Adam Lewis who rode to an impressive second place at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Conn McDunphy also lines up for the team, the former Irish national time trial champion looking to impress on home roads, as does Paul Kennedy, winner of round 2 of the Irish Road National Seriesthis year at the Donal Crowley Memorial.
There are also a host of strong teams from the UK making the trip across the Irish Sea; the chance of a five day stage race so close to home and offer many cannot refuse.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli bring an impressive five man squad, led by the dynamic duo of Tom Martin and Tim Shoreman. Martin has been in sensational form so far this season, taking victory in the Peaks 2-Day among a host of National B wins, while Aberdeen’s Shoreman is the current National Road Series leader courtesy of his second place at the East Cleveland Classic in April.
Conor McGoldrick of the Richardsons Trek DAS team wins stage 1 in 2023. Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Conor McGoldrick came very close to overall victory last year having won the opening stage on the way to third place overall. He leads a strong Richardsons Trek DAS squad including National B road race winner Jordan Giles as he looks to go one better this year.
Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling came close to a stage win and the GC last year with Dan Gardner finishing 4th overall, and have a team capable of claiming victory this year, with the likes of Will Perrett and George Kimber taking to the start. Kimber looked in excellent form as he rode to an aggressive 4th place at the Lincoln GP recently, having won a stage of the Rás Mumhan on the Emerald Isle earlier in the season.
Kimber wins stage 2 of the 2024 Rás Mumbai. Image: Caroline Kerley)
Foran CT had a strong start to the season and have secured the services of Kiwi Ryan Christensen, last year a professional with Bolton Equities-Black Spoke, for the Rás as a guest rider. Dom Jackson, second in the Rás Mumhan earlier this year, is also on the start list for a team that could spring a surprise.
Team PB Performance’s George Peden has enjoyed an excellent season racing in Ireland so far, his consistency earning him the lead in the Irish Road National Series after three rounds. Moonglu RT’s Will Taylor has been one of the most consistent domestic performers this season, earning him ninth in our national road race rankings.
Ribble Rebellion, fresh off the back of a trip to the Speedweek criteriums in the USA, make the switch to stage racing, led by their manager Joe Laverick. Laverick just missed out on a stage win last year, although will be backed up by Jim Brown this time around, the fast finisher eyeing a number of stages marked for a bunch sprint.
Guest riders have had a big impact on the race in the past, and although there are fewer this year, notable ones include Cameron Jeffers (CC Isle of Man) and Logan Maclean (Killarney CC), both of whom will be looking to make the most of their opportunity and make their mark on the race.
Ireland’s most famous stage race, the Rás Tailteann, returns this Wednesday for it’s 69th edition, starting in Tullamore and finishing in Bective on Sunday, as riders take on five stages in pursuit of the famous George Plant Trophy.
With stage racing a rarity in the UK, the race forms an important part of the calendar for UK elite teams.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
What is it?
A UCI 2.2 ranked race until 2018, it was forced to take a break in 2019 due to a lack of sponsorship, returning in 2022 as a non-UCI event.
Last year, Irishman Dillon Corkery added his name to a prestigious list of former winners, including Stephen Roche (1979), and more recently Tony Martin (2007) and Lukas Pöstlberger (2015).
As well as the General Classification, there is a Points Classification, won last year by Wheelbase CabTech Castelli’s Matt Fox, with points available at stage finishes and intermediate sprints, as well as the King of the Hills competition, with the number of points available at the 18 categorised climbs along the route varying with their difficulty.
This year there are nine British-based squads taking part in the race, together with a CC Isle of Man team.
Route
Riders will cover 784.8km of what are described as ‘spectator friendly’ roads across the five stages, with 18 categorised climbs punctuating the route, including two Category One passages, the toughest in the race.
A rare stage race for riders on UK elite teams, it offers both opportinites and challenges, the fatigue towards the end of the week something some will have not experienced before. Like most races in the UK, expect stages to start fast and remain relatively uncontrolled, the rolling nature of the stunning Irish landscape the perfect ground for attacking riders to make the difference.
With the obvious lack of mountainous terrain, the race will be won not only on strength but also tactical nous, as demonstrated by Corkery’s victory coming courtesy of a final day breakaway raid last year. Every second could count in a race set to reward aggression.
Stage 1 | Tullamore to Killmallock | 147.6km | Weds 22 May
Taking in two Category 3 ascents on the way to the first ever stage finish in Kilmallock, County Limerick, the day looks fairly straightforward on paper. However, twisting, technical roads that punctuate the latter part of the stage could favour a breakaway as the fight for the first leader’s jersey takes shape.
Stage 2 | Kanturk to Sneem | 183.8km | Thu 23 May
The Queen stage comes early in the race, with six categorised climbs along the route to the coast promising to deliver an epic stage.
The race crosses the first category Ballaghisheen Pass with over 80km still to race, the 5km climb averaging 5% sure to split the group ahead of the second category Coomikista Pass, another long climb over 6km with a 3% average gradient, where further splits should occur as the race takes in the famous Ring of Kerry road. Reaching the coast with stunning views, the race then changes direction as it heads towards the finish, a 16km circuit including the third category Letterfinish Climb (1.7km at 3.7%), the summit of which is located with just 6km to go.
The winner will be a worthy one and today’s result will go a long way to deciding the winner of the race.
Stage 3:| Kenmare to Cahir | 154.8km | Fri 24 May
The race begins it’s quest back across to the east of the country, with the organisers marking this stage down as an oppurtinity for the sprinters, despite three third category climbs along the way, due to the fast nature of the roads the race travels on.
Stage 4: Horse and Jockey to Kildare Town: 139km
A fascinating stage, the route contains no less than five categorised climbs, all coming in a 30km section, ending with a fast 70km run-in to Kildare Town.
The climbs include the Category One Gorteen ascent, reaching gradients of almost 10% over its 1.9km, although it is the constant nature of the climbs in that 30km which will do the damage; an ideal place for riders to escape and put pressure on their general classification rivals. Can they outrun the sprinters into Kildare?
Stage 5: Maynooth to Bectare: 155.6km
The final stage is a flat affair on paper, taking in just two third category climbs on the way to three laps of the 14km Bectare finishing circuit, however with the overall victory on the line, anything could happen.
A similar stage last year saw Dillon Corkery wrestle the leader’s jersey from Conor McGoldrick, taking over two minutes from the Londoner as part of an audacious breakaway.
Riders to watch
Although it is no longer a UCI race, the Ràs is still an excellent shop window for riders as they look to progress in their careers. Last year’s winner Dillon Corkery earned a ride with French Continental outfit St. Michel-Mavic-Auber93, with Points Classification winner Matt Fox heading to France with CC Étupes.
Corkery returns to defend his crown, again with the Irish National Team who also host Trinity Racing’s Dean Harvey, the Belfast rider impressing at last year’s Lincoln Grand Prix.
Daire Feeley (All Human-VeloRevolution) is another home hope. The 27-year-old has been a winning machine in Irish elite racing this year and won the Rás in 2022. Jason Kenny is another Irish rider to watch, having won the Brian O’Loughlin Memorial last weekend – where Feeley was second – the latest round of the Irish Road National Series.
Two UCI Continental teams make the journey to Europe for the race. Bodywrap Men’s Cycling Team have been in the UK for a number of weeks now in preparation for this race, the Chinese squad’s results steadily improving over their stay. Tour of Qinghai Lake stage winner Li Boan will lead the line for Simon Cope’s Continental Team, who should arrive in Ireland in excellent shape.
The other UCI team taking to the start is Team Skyline, the US outfit home of Adam Lewis who rode to an impressive second place at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Conn McDunphy also lines up for the team, the former Irish national time trial champion looking to impress on home roads, as does Paul Kennedy, winner of round 2 of the Irish Road National Seriesthis year at the Donal Crowley Memorial.
There are also a host of strong teams from the UK making the trip across the Irish Sea; the chance of a five day stage race so close to home and offer many cannot refuse.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli bring an impressive five man squad, led by the dynamic duo of Tom Martin and Tim Shoreman. Martin has been in sensational form so far this season, taking victory in the Peaks 2-Day among a host of National B wins, while Aberdeen’s Shoreman is the current National Road Series leader courtesy of his second place at the East Cleveland Classic in April.
Conor McGoldrick came very close to overall victory last year having won the opening stage on the way to third place overall. He leads a strong Richardsons Trek DAS squad including National B road race winner Jordan Giles as he looks to go one better this year.
Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling came close to a stage win and the GC last year with Dan Gardner finishing 4th overall, and have a team capable of claiming victory this year, with the likes of Will Perrett and George Kimber taking to the start. Kimber looked in excellent form as he rode to an aggressive 4th place at the Lincoln GP recently, having won a stage of the Rás Mumhan on the Emerald Isle earlier in the season.
Foran CT had a strong start to the season and have secured the services of Kiwi Ryan Christensen, last year a professional with Bolton Equities-Black Spoke, for the Rás as a guest rider. Dom Jackson, second in the Rás Mumhan earlier this year, is also on the start list for a team that could spring a surprise.
Team PB Performance’s George Peden has enjoyed an excellent season racing in Ireland so far, his consistency earning him the lead in the Irish Road National Series after three rounds. Moonglu RT’s Will Taylor has been one of the most consistent domestic performers this season, earning him ninth in our national road race rankings.
Ribble Rebellion, fresh off the back of a trip to the Speedweek criteriums in the USA, make the switch to stage racing, led by their manager Joe Laverick. Laverick just missed out on a stage win last year, although will be backed up by Jim Brown this time around, the fast finisher eyeing a number of stages marked for a bunch sprint.
Guest riders have had a big impact on the race in the past, and although there are fewer this year, notable ones include Cameron Jeffers (CC Isle of Man) and Logan Maclean (Killarney CC), both of whom will be looking to make the most of their opportunity and make their mark on the race.
Final startlist
Updated 22 May
Juan RivasSeniorCanel’s-JavaShare this:
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