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No World-Ranked Rás Tailteann To Be Held In 2019
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| Eimear Dignam Race Director |
Following a long and committed search for sponsorship for the Rás Tailteann, the organisers have today taken the difficult decision not to run an eight-day world-ranked race in 2019.
The event is a 2.2 event on the UCI international calendar, earning world-ranked points for those who excel on stages and in the overall classification. It has been part of that calendar since the 2000 edition and while this has added greatly to the prestige of the event, the extra requirements under UCI rules have greatly ramped up the budget.
The race finances were covered in recent years by An Post, but it stepped back from its backing of the race specifically and cycling in general in 2017. The Rás Tailteann took place as usual last year thanks to a reserve fund, but the depletion of that made it vital that new backing was secured for 2019
“We have exhausted all opportunities in relation to sponsorship for a UCI race this year,” states race director Eimear Dignam. “I am extremely disappointed. I have been involved in the race my whole life. But I am satisfied that I explored every opportunity to us to secure a sponsorship. We never envisaged that it would come to an end like this, but hopefully it won’t be an end.
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Rider Blog Team Gerard DHL
Normally nerves play a huge role leading into a cyclist’s first participation in the Rás, but for me, there was no time to be nervous. With a heavy college schedule building up to exams that finished just 2 days before stage 1, the Rás was just a date on my calendar.
2018 marked the first year of Team-Gerard DHL but also the first Rás for 80% of our Rás squad. To help us through 8 days of chaos was Paidi O’Brien. A man with huge experience and success in the sport, most of which I am still unaware of. More>>>
Luuc Bugter Delta Team Netherland Takes Final Overall Victory In The 2018 Rás Tailteann
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| Luuc Bugter Delta Team Netherlands Overall Winner |
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Rás Taileann Overall Results 2018
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ESB At 1961 Rás Tailteann
In the summer of 1961, staff from ESB’s Rural Electrification Office (REO) took to the road with the Rás Tailteann, a national multi-stage cycle race across Ireland. Instead of bicycles, their mode of transport for the race was a rather large Mobile Display van known as LIK 650.
This large demonstration vehicle, traditionally used for local shows around the Cork area, was relieved of its usual duties on this particular occasion and dispatched to Dublin to undertake an important if not somewhat unusual mission. More>>>
Bugter Grabs Final Overall Victory Ghys Wins Dramatic Last Stage Of Ras Tailteann
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| Luuc Bugter Delta Team Netherlands Overall Winner in two Classifications Yellow Jersey and Points |
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| Robbe Ghys, Belgium National Team winner of the final stage of the 2018 Ras Tailteann |
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| Luuc Bugter Delta Team Netherlands Overall Winner |
On what was a highly dramatic final lap of racing in Skerries, Robbe Ghys (Belgian National Team) won the last stage in the Rás Tailteann, while Luuc Bugter (Netherlands Delta Cycling X) snatched the yellow jersey from longtime leader Cyrille Thiery (Switzerland National Team).
Ghys and Bugter made their move on the second and final lap of a 13.7 kilometre finishing circuit, bridging across to Bugter’s teammate Sjoerd Bax and then driving hard all the way to the line. Thiery chased and at one point looked like he would defend yellow, but finally ended up finishing 12 seconds behind Ghys, 11 behind Bugter and, crucially, one second back from Bugter overall.
“I was in the top five every day. I won a stage, I am in the best form of my life. It went really well,” said Bugter. “I knew there was a chance that I could take the win on the last day, I had to take some seconds on the leader as there are no bonuses at the finish.
“Our team did an amazing job. One rider attacked on the final climb and I was attacking after him and I went to him and we were riding together. And a guy from Belgium came to us and we were three guys. We went full gas to the finish. Then I heard that I had enough seconds to win – it was a crazy feeling.” More>>>
Stage 8 Results Naas to Skerries 145 Kms.
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Rás Tailteann 18 Stage 8 Pictures Naas To Skerries 145 Kms,
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| Luuc Bugter Delta Team Netherlands Overall Winner |
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Varley Takes Superb Solo Vctory In Naas
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| Julian Vaelwy Britain KTM winner of stage seven in Naas |
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| Julian Varley Britain KTM stage winner |
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| Cyrille Thiery, Switzerland National Team Race Leader |
Climbing superbly on a tough day through the Wicklow Mountains and then resisting the chase behind on the mainly flat roads towards the finish, Julian Varley (Britain Team KTM) took the biggest success of his career on Saturday in Naas.
The 21-year-old Briton reached the line 18 seconds clear of a 16 man group led in by Robbe Ghys (Belgian National Team), Jacob Rathe (USA Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis), Jason van Dalen (Netherlands Delta Cycling X) and Luuc Bugter (Netherlands Delta Cycling X).
Lindsay Watson (Antrim Velo Cafe Magasin PowerHouse Sport) was best of the home riders in sixth, taking the prize for the best county rider on the stage, while Mark Dowling (Cycling Leinster) also finished in the group and deposed best overall county rider Ronan McLaughlin (Westmeath Viner – Caremark – Pactimo) of his blue jersey.
“It is the best result of my career, easily,” said Varley. “I won some races in the UK, but never UCI events. I knew I had good legs for the climb. I knew I just had to go big or don’t today.”
He made his move on the second of the day’s two first category climbs, the Wicklow Gap, jumping away about halfway up the climb and opening up a lead over a select group containing the race leader Cyrille Thiery (Switzerland National Team) and many of the other main contenders. More>>>
Stage 7 Results Carlow To Naas 141Kms.
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