Rás Tailteann Returns This Week
Rás Tailteann, Ireland’s premiere stage race, returns this week with almost 800km of racing over five stages.
Stage 1 takes place tomorrow, with riders setting off from Portlaoise’s O’Moore park from 11.35am, before a ceremonial start at the Laois County Council offices. Riders will take on 161.6km on their way to the finish in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick. There are three hot spot sprints up for grabs throughout the stage as well as three King of the Mountains climbs. Riders are expected to arrive at the finish between 15.20 and 16.30.
Stage 2 of this 71st edition of the Rás sets off from Rathmore, Co. Kerry and finishes up in Banteer, Co. Cork. The 192km stage has the potential to blow the race apart, with six King of the Mountain climbs.
Friday’s Stage 3 takes riders 155km from Mitchelstown, Co. Cork to Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. A lumpy stage will prove a tough test for even the strongest riders in this year’s race.
The penultimate stage in this year’s race gets underway from Carlow Town before visiting Arklow and Laragh and finishing in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow 141km later. With eight more King of the Mountains climbs, the challenges keep on coming for riders and teams on tough Wicklow roads.
As in recent years, this edition of the Rás will once again finish in Co. Meath. The final stage begins in Carlow, and with just one major climb on this stage the scene is set for an exciting finish in Dunboyne.
An Irish national team will once again take to the start line of the Rás. Liam Crowley and Jack Conroy are set to ride in national team colours, as is 2025 Junior National Road Race and TT champion Conor Murphy. The team of five this year will also feature two junior riders in Fionn Killeen and Hugh Óg Mulhearne. The national team has received a special dispensation from organisers to allow for two junior riders to enter the race with a view to help aid their development and provide exposure to a race of this calibre.
American professional outfit APS Pro Cycling will make an appearance, with several of their riders racing at last Sunday’s Criterium National Championships in Dublin City. Conn McDunphy and Cian Keogh are two riders to watch here, as is last year’s Junior Tour of Ireland winner Matthew Walls, making his Rás debut.
Mitchell McLaughlin has had a strong year so far, recently taking a silver medal as tandem pilot at a UCI World Cup round in Italy. He arrives into another Rás with British team Wheelbase/Cabtech/Castelli.
Foran CT have found success on Irish roads in recent years and return for this edition of the Rás, with this year’s Rás Mumhan winner Danylo Riwnyj and 2024 Rás Tailteann winner Dom Jackson in their squad.
Cycling Leinster and Cycling Connacht both enter teams again this year. Travis Harkness is among the notable names riding with Connacht this year, while Leinster will see the return of Toby Sweetman, both having had stints riding with French outfit Buffaz recently.
Cycling Club Isle of Man return this year, albeit without last year’s GC winner George Kimber in their team. Another Rás winner does return this year however, with Daire Feeley lining out with Burren CC.
Ronan McLaughlin has made a return to racing this year, having taken top spot at the Annaclone GP, and now lines out with Foyle CC/Derry alongside multi time, multi discipline national champion Dean Harvey.
Sean Lundy took top spot in the Brompton race at the Cycle Fest and Criterium National Championships over the weekend, and his UCD Cycling Club team will look to make a splash at this year’s Rás.
UCD CC are far from the only domestic team competing in this year’s Rás, with teams from every corner of the island of Ireland ready to battle the elements and the roads for a chance at the coveted Rás yellow jersey.
The full race technical guide is available here.
A huge thanks must be extended to Rás organisers and volunteers for their efforts, as well as Sport Ireland for their continued support.