Champion absent, Wicklow back on the route, and a field that runs from UCI Continental to county teams. The 71st Rás Tailteann starts in Portlaoise on Wednesday with no clear favourite.
It is difficult to sum up the Rás Tailteann in just one word, but as the 71st edition of Ireland’s premier stage race rolls out of Portlaoise on Wednesday (20 May) it is sure to be all those, and more.
Winding its way across the island, and back, to finish in Dunboyne on Sunday over five stages and 784km, the 2026 edition is set to be a special one as the picturesque Wicklow mountains return to the parcours for the first time since 2018, forming part of a challenging parcours that sits between the riders and the majestic George Plant Trophy that lies in wait for the winner.
With defending champion George Kimber absent, Ireland’s best talent will go head to head with the might of a UCI Continental team, squads from Europe and the Americas, and seven squads from Britain’s domestic scene in one of the premier stage races outside of the UCI ranks.
Few races have the history of ‘the Rás’, with previous winners ranging from Irish triple-crown hero Stephen Roche to rower turned cyclist Dom Jackson, via Tony Martin, a four-time World Time Trial Champion.
An historic race which for many years was the breeding ground for Irish talent to thrive in a stage racing environment, the race acquired UCI 2.2 classification in the new millennium, pitting those riders against the might of Britain’s UCI teams and an aspirational international field, keeping its unique charm while helping to launch the careers of the likes of Jai Hindley and John Degenkolb—both ‘men of the Rás’, a title affectionately given to every rider who takes to the start.
The Rás took a hiatus between 2019 and 2021, returning in its current form in 2022. Absent from the UCI calendar, but with all the tradition and fierce competitiveness that gave the race its reputation, it remains a highlight of the amateur calendar with stage races remaining a rarity across the British Isles, continuing to attract a truly international field.
Alongside the general classification there is a points classification, the leader of which donning the green jersey, with points only awarded at the stage finish for the first 15 places.
Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
The Irish Independent purple jersey is reserved for the leader of the King of the Mountains classification, with points awarded at the summit of the 21 classified climbs throughout the five stages. The maximum award of 15 points is available on the two category one ascents featured on the fourth stage.
There are also two team classification competitions—one for the Irish County teams, with the other open to all competing.
For many riders however a stage win remains the most valuable prize and ultimate aim as they arrive on the startline. A career highlight for any rider present, there are opportunities for sprinters, climbers and rouleurs across the five days.
The route
Organiser Ger Campbell has produced a fascinating parcours for the 2026 edition, with the nature of Ireland’s roads, and the aggressive, uncontrollable style of racing on the Emerald Isle meaning each stage has the potential to be decisive.
Over 80km longer than last year, with almost twice as many categorised climbs, the five stages, a rarity at this level, will test the riders—fatigue likely to play a part towards the end of the race.
Stage One | Portlaoise to Kilmallock, 161.6km | Wed 20 May
A fast and flat opening 80km ramps up in the second half of the stage as the puncheurs will look to outfox the sprinters with three classified climbs punctuating the otherwise flat and fast parcours.
Situated just 20km from the finish, the climb through Old Pallas is set to be the main focal point for the action as the race travels through County Limerick towards Kilmallock, the short test harder than it appears on paper.
Big crowds are again expected in the town which hosted the race’s opening stage two years ago, the script being ripped up on that occasion as Alex Pritchard claimed the stage win from the early break as Dom Jackson took a huge step forward in the battle for the general classification.
Stage Two | Rathmore to Banteer, 182.9km | Thu 21 May
The longest stage of the race will greet the riders as they travel from County Kerry to County Cork in the southwest of the country for the second stage where wind could pose as much of an issue as the brutal parcours.
Six categorised climbs are packed into the stage, the second of which, the iconic Caha Pass, could split the race up within its opening third.
Climbing the easier side from north, the road only rises at an average gradient of 2.9%, the damage likely to be done by its length—at 8.6km it is one of the longest in the country, with the toughest 4km reserved for the second half. From there there is a kicker in Glengarriff almost straight after, a third category ascent, before another lengthy climb from Real Kealkill over the Coughane Gap—around 10km of uphill gradient to again test the legs.
From there the race heads through the rolling terrain back north to the finish in Banteer, an unclassified climb followed by the third category ascent of Lyre, crested with less than 25km to the stage finish, ensuring a finale which favours the strongest riders.
A good day here can go a long way to winning the Rás. A poor one will almost certainly put riders out of contention.
Stage Three | Mitchelstown to Enniscorthy, 155.6km | Fri 22 May
The race heads east on Friday to County Wexford for what on paper is a far easier, and shorter stage featuring just two classified climbs along the way before a third which tops out at the finishing line in Enniscorthy town centre.
Just 750m long with a steady gradient of just over 3%, the climb itself is unlikely to prove decisive for the general classification and could still see a sprinter emerge as the stage winner. However, this is exactly the sort of stage which makes the Rás unique—innocuous on paper, it has the potential to turn the race on its head.
Stage Four | Carlow Town to Baltinglass,141.6km | Sat 23 May
Unquestionably the queen stage, the winner into Baltinglass may well take the yellow jersey into the final stage as the race tackles eight classified climbs, including two first category ascents, making its way through the Wicklow mountains for the first time since 2018 where Julian Varley was victorious on a very similar route, while Eddie Dunbar claimed victory in Baltinglass two years prior.
While the stage is centred around an incredibly difficult 20km section around two thirds into the race the peloton will firstly have to negotiate the second category climb of Ballythomas followed in quick succession by the third category ascents of Monalea and Annagh Gap, the trio the hors d’oeuvres to what still lies ahead.
Having then conquered the Garrymore climb, the race heads to perhaps its hardest ascent at the category one Glenmalure—just over 3.1km in length and with an average gradient north of 8% it is where the pure climbers can shine, both the duration and difficulty of the slopes enough to tear the race apart. After a 6km descent to the feed zone, the Wicklow Gap begins, a stunning climb used during the 1998 Tour de France. While that stage ended in a sprint in the capital, any repeat is nigh on impossible here—the 8km climb averaging out at 4.9%, but packing a punch as the road rears up to 12% in places. With the legs burning, the strongest riders will look to make their advantage count here, the yellow jersey on the line with some regrouping possible on the long, but shallow descent into the finish.
Stage Five | Carlow Town to Dunboyne, 141km | Sun 24 May
The final stage, on paper, appears to be a simple one—just one categorised climb at the Hill of Allen sets between the race leader and the George Plant Trophy in Dunboyne, where the race concludes with three laps of a finishing circuit.
However, the final stage is rarely predictable. Dillon Corkery overhauled a two-minute deficit to snatch the race from Conor McGoldrick on a dramatic last day in 2023, while George Kimber dug deep to respond to multiple attacks last year as Josh Charlton took the stage honours in Bective.
Dunboyne hosts the finale this year and the technical finishing circuit should again serve up drama—resilience the key for all involved after a leg-sapping stage the day before. It’s the last chance for the sprinters and breakaway specialists to leave their mark on the race as the general classification battle comes to what promises to be a thrilling climax.
Riders to watch
145 riders spread across 29 teams will take to the start, with Roscommon’s Daire Feeley the only rider to have lifted the George Plant Trophy before back in 2022, beating Louis Sutton, now a professional with Euskaltel–Euskadi, in a close fought contest. He leads a Burren Cycling Club line-up which mixes youth with experience, Finn McHenry, now riding under an Irish licence, also among their number. He famously demonstrated his climbing ability on the steep slopes across the Lancaster Grand Prix in 2024, finishing fourth after dominating the climber’s prize, while Paul Kennedy, a rider now in his mid-40s is also one to watch—the former UCI Continental rider was second to Alex Pritchard in Kilmallock two years ago and comes into the race in good form after a solo victory in the John Drumm Cup in County Kerry.
APS Pro Cycling are the only UCI Continental outfit in the race and enter with an enviable line-up to counter that weight of expectation. Irishman Conn McDunphy leads their charge alongside Walsall’s Adam Lewis, the experienced pair recently breaking away together to seal an epic stage of the Tour of the Gila into Fort Boyard—Lewis’ maiden UCI win.
McDunphy is a former Irish Hill Climb and Time Trial champion, and as a winner of multiple UCI races the 29-year-old has both the attributes and experience to win, while Lewis, who told The British Continental he was focusing on winning stages rather than riding for GC, can act as the perfect foil. Strong in the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix earlier this month, he arrives in good form and is no stranger to the unpredictable nature of the race, having taken the King of the Mountains jersey here a year ago on the way to sixth place.
Matt Bostock. Image: Milan Josy/The British Continental
Isle of Man CC won the race twelve months ago courtesy of a virtuoso performance from George Kimber and arrive in Ireland this year with hopes of a repeat performance from two natives of the Isle. Matt Bostock impressed at the Lincoln GP and will have his eye on stage wins should they come down to a bunch sprint, while climber Zac Walker has made a comeback to the sport this year after two years at UCI level where he showed promise in races such as the Giro Next Gen and the U23 Il Lombardia.
Niek Hoorsman (West-Frisia) experienced Irish racing for the first time over the Easter weekend, winning Stage 2 of the Rás Mumhan, finishing third overall behind Danylo Riwnjy. Having stepped back from the UCI ranks this year, he continues to show impressive form, recently finishing fifth in Gravel Fifty One, a round of the UCI World Series. More of a sprinter, his general classification hopes rest on how he copes with the repeated climbing on stages two and four.
Rás Mumhan winner Riwnjy arrives to the race in the form of his life, having taken his first National B win less than twelve months ago in a stage of the Ronde van Wymeswold, adding the Wally Gimber and Victor Berlemont Trophies to a growing palmarès since. An untimely puncture scuppered his chances at Lincoln earlier this month, although the 27-year-old looks primed for a big win, his Foran CT team leaving no stone unturned when winning the race with Dom Jackson two years ago. Jackson returns this year alongside former professional Ryan Christensen, the Kiwi bringing a wealth of experience and in the role of road captain.
Danylo Riwnyj. Image: Milan Josy/The British Continental
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli bring what is on paper the strongest team to the race with all five of their riders claiming realistic ambitions of success—a nice problem for DS Stu Reid to deal with as they look to win the race for the first time.
Tom Armstrong has perhaps been the standout rider of 2026 thus far with bittersweet second and third places at the CiCLE Classic and the Lincoln Grand Prix in recent weeks, the all-rounder a good bet for stage wins or the overall depending on how the race plays out. He is joined by Tom Martin, a former Rás Mumhan winner, the Cumbrian’s swashbuckling, aggressive style perfect for a race as uncontrollable as the Rás. Second in the East Cleveland Classic last month, his form has held—strong showings in the CiCLE Classic and Lincoln Grand Prix leading into an outstanding sixth place in the Graloch at the weekend. The Cumbrian is sure to take the race to the opposition—whether it be on the climbs or descents, he is the dictionary definition of an aggressive rider.
Tim Shoreman has been notable by his absence on the road this season having made his Great Britain track debut at the European Championships in February, with a criterium in the USA in April his last race. With the Commonwealth Games and National Circuit Series on the horizon one would imagine he remains in good shape should he take the start, although his form is ultimately a mystery should he wish to add to his three stage wins and points classification from previous editions.
Rounding out the squad are Irish native Mitch McLaughlin and former Scottish Road Race Champion Aaron King, who has quietly impressed so far this season—fourth place in the Rapha Super-League evidence of his ability to put himself in the right positions at the right time.
Tim Shoreman wins his second stage of the week into Miltown Malbay at the 2025 edition. Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Elsewhere across the seven British squads to take the start, Irishman George Peden (PB Performance) is one to watch. A time trial specialist, his metronomic style is well suited to the shallower climbs that litter the stages, multiple strong performances at the Capernwray Road race and its numerous ascents of the lengthy Sunny Bank a demonstration of his ability when the road goes uphill and the racing becomes hard.
Harry MacFarlane (Ride Revolution Coaching) is another rider who will relish the hilly parcours, the back-to-back National Hill Climb Champion a master of the short effort, demonstrating his form when dancing up the cobbles of the Michaelgate at the Lincoln GP earlier this month. MacFarlane, a social media star thanks to his often unorthodox approach to the sport, enjoyed his best season in 2025—narrowly missing out on the podium at both the Wentworth Woodhouse and Witheridge Grands Prix after finishing seventh in this race. He could be a dark horse for the stage win into Enniscorthy should the climb to the line be challenging enough to put off the sprinters, and will be a rider to watch when he attacks with regard to the general classification—he is unlikely to wait until the Wicklow Gap on Stage 4, favouring the steeper gradients found earlier in the race.
DAS Richardsons will be eyeing stage wins following Will Perrett’s success last year, with a line-up spearheaded by the fast-finishing Oliver Curd, the sprinter winning the Jock Wadley Memorial back in March where he showed his speed in a bunch sprint after a textbook lead-out, while all-rounder Jordan Giles is one of the most consistent performers on the National B scene and will be a dangerous rider to let up the road. Michael Gill comes into the race as a bit of an unknown quantity having become an integral part of the Great Britain team pursuit squad, the majority of his time spent training and racing with the track in mind. Excellent against the clock, he could follow in the footsteps of Alex Pritchard, who took the opening stage from the breakaway two years ago.
19-year-old Conor Murphy leads the Irish National Team under the guidance of Martyn Irvine, the junior national road race and time trial champion now plying his trade for the Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team. The first-year U23 holds an outstanding record against the clock, although the Rás will be a different sort of test for the prodigy who has only three race days in his legs this season.
Belfast’s Dean Harvey (Foyle Cycling Club) is a familiar face to British fans, having finished second in the King of the Mountains classification at the Tour of Britain and taken on the might of Saint Piran at the Lincoln Grand Prix whilst under the wing of Trinity Racing. Having raced in France last year, the Rás is one of the reigning national criterium and cyclocross champion’s biggest opportunities to impress during his first year as a senior.
Another home rider of note is Evan Keane (Pinergy Orwell Wheelers) who has proven to be a consistent performer so far this season, finishing second in the most recent Cycling Ireland National Grade race, the Waller Cup, as well as taking the honours at the Sliabh Luachra classic in March.
Historic. Unpredictable. Beautiful. Emotional.
It is difficult to sum up the Rás Tailteann in just one word, but as the 71st edition of Ireland’s premier stage race rolls out of Portlaoise on Wednesday (20 May) it is sure to be all those, and more.
Winding its way across the island, and back, to finish in Dunboyne on Sunday over five stages and 784km, the 2026 edition is set to be a special one as the picturesque Wicklow mountains return to the parcours for the first time since 2018, forming part of a challenging parcours that sits between the riders and the majestic George Plant Trophy that lies in wait for the winner.
With defending champion George Kimber absent, Ireland’s best talent will go head to head with the might of a UCI Continental team, squads from Europe and the Americas, and seven squads from Britain’s domestic scene in one of the premier stage races outside of the UCI ranks.
Featured image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Use code TBC10 at 4Endurance.co.uk for 10% off your order.
What is it?
Few races have the history of ‘the Rás’, with previous winners ranging from Irish triple-crown hero Stephen Roche to rower turned cyclist Dom Jackson, via Tony Martin, a four-time World Time Trial Champion.
An historic race which for many years was the breeding ground for Irish talent to thrive in a stage racing environment, the race acquired UCI 2.2 classification in the new millennium, pitting those riders against the might of Britain’s UCI teams and an aspirational international field, keeping its unique charm while helping to launch the careers of the likes of Jai Hindley and John Degenkolb—both ‘men of the Rás’, a title affectionately given to every rider who takes to the start.
The Rás took a hiatus between 2019 and 2021, returning in its current form in 2022. Absent from the UCI calendar, but with all the tradition and fierce competitiveness that gave the race its reputation, it remains a highlight of the amateur calendar with stage races remaining a rarity across the British Isles, continuing to attract a truly international field.
Alongside the general classification there is a points classification, the leader of which donning the green jersey, with points only awarded at the stage finish for the first 15 places.
The Irish Independent purple jersey is reserved for the leader of the King of the Mountains classification, with points awarded at the summit of the 21 classified climbs throughout the five stages. The maximum award of 15 points is available on the two category one ascents featured on the fourth stage.
There are also two team classification competitions—one for the Irish County teams, with the other open to all competing.
For many riders however a stage win remains the most valuable prize and ultimate aim as they arrive on the startline. A career highlight for any rider present, there are opportunities for sprinters, climbers and rouleurs across the five days.
The route
Organiser Ger Campbell has produced a fascinating parcours for the 2026 edition, with the nature of Ireland’s roads, and the aggressive, uncontrollable style of racing on the Emerald Isle meaning each stage has the potential to be decisive.
Over 80km longer than last year, with almost twice as many categorised climbs, the five stages, a rarity at this level, will test the riders—fatigue likely to play a part towards the end of the race.
Stage One | Portlaoise to Kilmallock, 161.6km | Wed 20 May
A fast and flat opening 80km ramps up in the second half of the stage as the puncheurs will look to outfox the sprinters with three classified climbs punctuating the otherwise flat and fast parcours.
Situated just 20km from the finish, the climb through Old Pallas is set to be the main focal point for the action as the race travels through County Limerick towards Kilmallock, the short test harder than it appears on paper.
Big crowds are again expected in the town which hosted the race’s opening stage two years ago, the script being ripped up on that occasion as Alex Pritchard claimed the stage win from the early break as Dom Jackson took a huge step forward in the battle for the general classification.
Stage Two | Rathmore to Banteer, 182.9km | Thu 21 May
The longest stage of the race will greet the riders as they travel from County Kerry to County Cork in the southwest of the country for the second stage where wind could pose as much of an issue as the brutal parcours.
Six categorised climbs are packed into the stage, the second of which, the iconic Caha Pass, could split the race up within its opening third.
Climbing the easier side from north, the road only rises at an average gradient of 2.9%, the damage likely to be done by its length—at 8.6km it is one of the longest in the country, with the toughest 4km reserved for the second half. From there there is a kicker in Glengarriff almost straight after, a third category ascent, before another lengthy climb from Real Kealkill over the Coughane Gap—around 10km of uphill gradient to again test the legs.
From there the race heads through the rolling terrain back north to the finish in Banteer, an unclassified climb followed by the third category ascent of Lyre, crested with less than 25km to the stage finish, ensuring a finale which favours the strongest riders.
A good day here can go a long way to winning the Rás. A poor one will almost certainly put riders out of contention.
Stage Three | Mitchelstown to Enniscorthy, 155.6km | Fri 22 May
The race heads east on Friday to County Wexford for what on paper is a far easier, and shorter stage featuring just two classified climbs along the way before a third which tops out at the finishing line in Enniscorthy town centre.
Just 750m long with a steady gradient of just over 3%, the climb itself is unlikely to prove decisive for the general classification and could still see a sprinter emerge as the stage winner. However, this is exactly the sort of stage which makes the Rás unique—innocuous on paper, it has the potential to turn the race on its head.
Stage Four | Carlow Town to Baltinglass,141.6km | Sat 23 May
Unquestionably the queen stage, the winner into Baltinglass may well take the yellow jersey into the final stage as the race tackles eight classified climbs, including two first category ascents, making its way through the Wicklow mountains for the first time since 2018 where Julian Varley was victorious on a very similar route, while Eddie Dunbar claimed victory in Baltinglass two years prior.
While the stage is centred around an incredibly difficult 20km section around two thirds into the race the peloton will firstly have to negotiate the second category climb of Ballythomas followed in quick succession by the third category ascents of Monalea and Annagh Gap, the trio the hors d’oeuvres to what still lies ahead.
Having then conquered the Garrymore climb, the race heads to perhaps its hardest ascent at the category one Glenmalure—just over 3.1km in length and with an average gradient north of 8% it is where the pure climbers can shine, both the duration and difficulty of the slopes enough to tear the race apart. After a 6km descent to the feed zone, the Wicklow Gap begins, a stunning climb used during the 1998 Tour de France. While that stage ended in a sprint in the capital, any repeat is nigh on impossible here—the 8km climb averaging out at 4.9%, but packing a punch as the road rears up to 12% in places. With the legs burning, the strongest riders will look to make their advantage count here, the yellow jersey on the line with some regrouping possible on the long, but shallow descent into the finish.
Stage Five | Carlow Town to Dunboyne, 141km | Sun 24 May
The final stage, on paper, appears to be a simple one—just one categorised climb at the Hill of Allen sets between the race leader and the George Plant Trophy in Dunboyne, where the race concludes with three laps of a finishing circuit.
However, the final stage is rarely predictable. Dillon Corkery overhauled a two-minute deficit to snatch the race from Conor McGoldrick on a dramatic last day in 2023, while George Kimber dug deep to respond to multiple attacks last year as Josh Charlton took the stage honours in Bective.
Dunboyne hosts the finale this year and the technical finishing circuit should again serve up drama—resilience the key for all involved after a leg-sapping stage the day before. It’s the last chance for the sprinters and breakaway specialists to leave their mark on the race as the general classification battle comes to what promises to be a thrilling climax.
Riders to watch
145 riders spread across 29 teams will take to the start, with Roscommon’s Daire Feeley the only rider to have lifted the George Plant Trophy before back in 2022, beating Louis Sutton, now a professional with Euskaltel–Euskadi, in a close fought contest. He leads a Burren Cycling Club line-up which mixes youth with experience, Finn McHenry, now riding under an Irish licence, also among their number. He famously demonstrated his climbing ability on the steep slopes across the Lancaster Grand Prix in 2024, finishing fourth after dominating the climber’s prize, while Paul Kennedy, a rider now in his mid-40s is also one to watch—the former UCI Continental rider was second to Alex Pritchard in Kilmallock two years ago and comes into the race in good form after a solo victory in the John Drumm Cup in County Kerry.
APS Pro Cycling are the only UCI Continental outfit in the race and enter with an enviable line-up to counter that weight of expectation. Irishman Conn McDunphy leads their charge alongside Walsall’s Adam Lewis, the experienced pair recently breaking away together to seal an epic stage of the Tour of the Gila into Fort Boyard—Lewis’ maiden UCI win.
McDunphy is a former Irish Hill Climb and Time Trial champion, and as a winner of multiple UCI races the 29-year-old has both the attributes and experience to win, while Lewis, who told The British Continental he was focusing on winning stages rather than riding for GC, can act as the perfect foil. Strong in the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix earlier this month, he arrives in good form and is no stranger to the unpredictable nature of the race, having taken the King of the Mountains jersey here a year ago on the way to sixth place.
Isle of Man CC won the race twelve months ago courtesy of a virtuoso performance from George Kimber and arrive in Ireland this year with hopes of a repeat performance from two natives of the Isle. Matt Bostock impressed at the Lincoln GP and will have his eye on stage wins should they come down to a bunch sprint, while climber Zac Walker has made a comeback to the sport this year after two years at UCI level where he showed promise in races such as the Giro Next Gen and the U23 Il Lombardia.
Niek Hoorsman (West-Frisia) experienced Irish racing for the first time over the Easter weekend, winning Stage 2 of the Rás Mumhan, finishing third overall behind Danylo Riwnjy. Having stepped back from the UCI ranks this year, he continues to show impressive form, recently finishing fifth in Gravel Fifty One, a round of the UCI World Series. More of a sprinter, his general classification hopes rest on how he copes with the repeated climbing on stages two and four.
Rás Mumhan winner Riwnjy arrives to the race in the form of his life, having taken his first National B win less than twelve months ago in a stage of the Ronde van Wymeswold, adding the Wally Gimber and Victor Berlemont Trophies to a growing palmarès since. An untimely puncture scuppered his chances at Lincoln earlier this month, although the 27-year-old looks primed for a big win, his Foran CT team leaving no stone unturned when winning the race with Dom Jackson two years ago. Jackson returns this year alongside former professional Ryan Christensen, the Kiwi bringing a wealth of experience and in the role of road captain.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli bring what is on paper the strongest team to the race with all five of their riders claiming realistic ambitions of success—a nice problem for DS Stu Reid to deal with as they look to win the race for the first time.
Tom Armstrong has perhaps been the standout rider of 2026 thus far with bittersweet second and third places at the CiCLE Classic and the Lincoln Grand Prix in recent weeks, the all-rounder a good bet for stage wins or the overall depending on how the race plays out. He is joined by Tom Martin, a former Rás Mumhan winner, the Cumbrian’s swashbuckling, aggressive style perfect for a race as uncontrollable as the Rás. Second in the East Cleveland Classic last month, his form has held—strong showings in the CiCLE Classic and Lincoln Grand Prix leading into an outstanding sixth place in the Graloch at the weekend. The Cumbrian is sure to take the race to the opposition—whether it be on the climbs or descents, he is the dictionary definition of an aggressive rider.
Tim Shoreman has been notable by his absence on the road this season having made his Great Britain track debut at the European Championships in February, with a criterium in the USA in April his last race. With the Commonwealth Games and National Circuit Series on the horizon one would imagine he remains in good shape should he take the start, although his form is ultimately a mystery should he wish to add to his three stage wins and points classification from previous editions.
Rounding out the squad are Irish native Mitch McLaughlin and former Scottish Road Race Champion Aaron King, who has quietly impressed so far this season—fourth place in the Rapha Super-League evidence of his ability to put himself in the right positions at the right time.
Elsewhere across the seven British squads to take the start, Irishman George Peden (PB Performance) is one to watch. A time trial specialist, his metronomic style is well suited to the shallower climbs that litter the stages, multiple strong performances at the Capernwray Road race and its numerous ascents of the lengthy Sunny Bank a demonstration of his ability when the road goes uphill and the racing becomes hard.
Harry MacFarlane (Ride Revolution Coaching) is another rider who will relish the hilly parcours, the back-to-back National Hill Climb Champion a master of the short effort, demonstrating his form when dancing up the cobbles of the Michaelgate at the Lincoln GP earlier this month. MacFarlane, a social media star thanks to his often unorthodox approach to the sport, enjoyed his best season in 2025—narrowly missing out on the podium at both the Wentworth Woodhouse and Witheridge Grands Prix after finishing seventh in this race. He could be a dark horse for the stage win into Enniscorthy should the climb to the line be challenging enough to put off the sprinters, and will be a rider to watch when he attacks with regard to the general classification—he is unlikely to wait until the Wicklow Gap on Stage 4, favouring the steeper gradients found earlier in the race.
DAS Richardsons will be eyeing stage wins following Will Perrett’s success last year, with a line-up spearheaded by the fast-finishing Oliver Curd, the sprinter winning the Jock Wadley Memorial back in March where he showed his speed in a bunch sprint after a textbook lead-out, while all-rounder Jordan Giles is one of the most consistent performers on the National B scene and will be a dangerous rider to let up the road. Michael Gill comes into the race as a bit of an unknown quantity having become an integral part of the Great Britain team pursuit squad, the majority of his time spent training and racing with the track in mind. Excellent against the clock, he could follow in the footsteps of Alex Pritchard, who took the opening stage from the breakaway two years ago.
19-year-old Conor Murphy leads the Irish National Team under the guidance of Martyn Irvine, the junior national road race and time trial champion now plying his trade for the Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team. The first-year U23 holds an outstanding record against the clock, although the Rás will be a different sort of test for the prodigy who has only three race days in his legs this season.
Belfast’s Dean Harvey (Foyle Cycling Club) is a familiar face to British fans, having finished second in the King of the Mountains classification at the Tour of Britain and taken on the might of Saint Piran at the Lincoln Grand Prix whilst under the wing of Trinity Racing. Having raced in France last year, the Rás is one of the reigning national criterium and cyclocross champion’s biggest opportunities to impress during his first year as a senior.
Another home rider of note is Evan Keane (Pinergy Orwell Wheelers) who has proven to be a consistent performer so far this season, finishing second in the most recent Cycling Ireland National Grade race, the Waller Cup, as well as taking the honours at the Sliabh Luachra classic in March.
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