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The Mythical Legend That Is The Rás By Tommy Evans
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| Rás Winner Tommy Evans Derry Clarke Brothers With The George Plant Trophy |
The Rás has a deep ingrained history within Irish Cycling, form growing up as an underage rider I loved to hear the stories of the Rás, the great men that race had some amazing stories to tell, I didn’t care if they where true or false I knew I had to conquer it.
As a 14 year old I knew from then that I loved stage racing everyday gave you an opportunity to win, rectify your mistake from the day before, out do an opponent more miles on the clock.
Roll onto 1992 my first taste of the Ras as a 19year old full of confidence and no fear, taking on a 9-day stage race, the longest race I’d ever ridden!!
We had the Italians who just looked the business, they had amazing kit, fantastic bikes, they even smelt nice!!!
While here I was amongst all the other county teams fighting to survive, a few occasions seen me over zealous on some of the descents ending up in the ditch on more than one occasion!!!
I always remember being in a crash with Tosh Lavery who was well bashed up but being harder than nails he just got stitched up and rode on!! At 19 you look at this and realise no-one likes to quit this race no matter what.
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John O'Hallorans Rás Storey 1992
If Im honest ; I was hooked from the start . The first story of the Ras ,the first time seeing a stage end , the thought of being in it I was hooked.
I got my chance in 1992. My club NT Oranmore would enter team for the first time. Apart from our mechanic Johnny Varley and the highly experienced Colm Bracken we were all new to this. there was Nick Holland [Nick the fish] and no, I have no idea why he was called that, Dave Nugent who remains a great friend and I.
Dave was 20 and I was 19 Nick was and still is ageless. The common thought around Galway was we would never finish it.
Gerry McEnerney had put his skills,organisation and boundless love of cycling into getting us there. The sense of occasion at the evening sign on was immense . There was a mix of nerves and old friends meeting.
I sat and tried to look as if I belonged ,as established internationals, foreign managers , the UK riders,tanned and seriously lean Italian and Belgians sauntered in.
My goal was simple enough " get around", hopefully in one piece and if at all possible get to the front , try to get in a break and have a" good go " on the stage 2 into Oughterard Galway.
Ahh , the innocence youth, looking back at now ; little did I know then. More>>>
Rás 2020 Posponed Due To Covid 19 Virus
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| Race Director Eugene Moriarty |
Following the recent developments and recommendations from Cycling Ireland, the UCI, the HSE, Sport Ireland and the Government of Ireland.
Cáirde Rás Tailteann has decided to postpone the 2020 Rás Tailteann which was due to return to the roads of Ireland in June 2020 after a hiatus in 2019. This is directly as a result of accelerating developments relating to the Covid-19 virus pandemic.
"Considering the nature of the public health emergency Ireland and the world is currently dealing with and the progressive evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cáirde Rás Tailteann has decided that it is in the best interests of everyone associated with the event and the wider public to temporarily postpone the 2020 event from its planned start date on June 10th next" said Eugene Moriarty, the 2020 Race Director.
He added “The decision to postpone has not been taken lightly, but when we consider the on-going restrictions that are in place, the current workload of An Garda Síochána, County Councils and the Health Service, all of whom play integral roles in an event of this stature, we feel it is only appropriate that planning for the 2020 Rás does not add to the immediate burden faced by our critical frontline public servants” More>>>
Rás Tailteann Podium From 1953 To 2020 Plus Statistics
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| Rás Tailteann Podium From 1953 To 2020 Plus Statistics |
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Rás Tailteann Route Details
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| Overall Route |
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Rás Tailteann Route 2020
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| Eugene Moriarty Race Organiser |
The much-anticipated return to the Irish Cycling calendar of the Rás Tailteann after a year’s absence in 2019 took another step forward with the announcement of the route of the 2020 Rás Tailteann
The 67th. edition of the race will travel clockwise around Ireland with stage finishes in Horse and Jockey, Castleisland, Lisdoonvarna, Kilbeggan, before starting the final stage in Kinnegad to the finishing circuit in seaside town of Blackrock, Co. Louth. The new 5-day event will cover 758km with 7 categorised climbs which will act as a platform for attacking riders to battle it out for the coveted Rás yellow jersey.
Cáirde Rás Tailteann, the new committee established to run the new look Rás Tailteann have also announced that Eugene Moriarty from the group will be the Race Director for the 2020 event. Eugene who hails from Kerry, is a well-known figure from past Rás Tailteann believes that the 2020 route will make for some interesting racing. With no major climbs in this year’s event, it will make for open racing in which Ireland’s finest amateur riders will compete against at least eight International teams.
Eugene went on to say “the route expertly designed by Ger Campbell, will allow the riders to race every day, with undulating roads and deliberately stays away from multiple big first category mountains of recent editions, this will open up the race for aggressive racing”
Team registration and entry is expected to open before the end of March via the website and this will be announced nearer the time.
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| Route Of THe 2020 Ras Tailteann |
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Cáirde Rás Tailteann 2020 Announce Race Details
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| Robert John McCarthy, Ireland National Team winning stage two Athlone to Tipperary 2018 Rás Tilteann |
While up to eight teams from abroad will likely ride Rás Tailteann next June the race will be refocused on domestic riders, new route planner Ger Campbell has said.
The Drogheda Wheelers stalwart is among a six-man group that has assumed control of the race which will run Wednesday to Sunday in June.
Campbell and five others are part of a newly-formed promotions group, Cáirde Rás Tailteann. It has taken over the running of Rás Tailteann from Cumann Rás Tailteann. More>>>
‘The Rás – The Story of Ireland’s Unique Bike Race’
The 2019 cycling season passed in Ireland without our beloved Rás Tailteann stage race for the first time since 1953. The recent press release announcing its return in 2020 came as a welcome relief to all concerned.
The preservation of the race itself is not the only thing at stake as an annual Rás is crucial in sustaining a vibrant racing calendar and the ongoing development of the sport is dependent on this.
However, there is still the somewhat contentious question about which type of Rás best serves that secondary purpose of promoting the overall best interests of Irish cycling: the so-called ‘old’ Rás, prior to the event’s inclusion in the UCI calendar in 2000, or that ‘new’ Rás we have seen from then to 2018. More>>>
Ras Tailteann Back For 2020
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| Colm Christle, Dublin First Rás Winner 1953 |
The Rás will find its rightful place back on the Cycling Ireland calendar in 2020, promoted and run next year by a newly-formed promotions group, Cáirde Rás Tailteann, and thanks in huge part to significant collaboration with its historical organising club, Cumann Rás Tailteann.
Cumann Rás Tailteann have this week shown huge support to the promotions group, which compromises a number of long-time volunteers on the Rás, to run the race next year.
Following a long and committed search for sponsorship for Rás Tailteann, 8 Day International Race in 2019, the race
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| Luuc Bugter Netherlands Rás Winner 2018 |
ultimately fell victim of insufficient financial support and dropped off the calendar. Today the historical organisers confirmed that they will not themselves run an event in 2020, but are delighted to see the race go ahead under new organisers, with Cumann Rás Tailteann’s full support.
The promotions group will continue to follow the historical identity of the Rás Tailteann in the ethos of County and International teams. The 2020 edition of the Rás is likely to be over fewer days, possibly five, but the new organisers endeavour to promote this unique Irish race back to its UCI status in the coming years over eight days. More>>>
2019 Rás Tailteann Cancelled Due To Lack Of Sponsorship
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| 2019 Rás Tailteann Cancelled Due To No Sponsorship |
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