An Post Ras route unveiled here now after accidental leak – Donegal dominates | Sticky Bottle

Race leader Gediminas Bagdonas wins into Castletownbere last year (Photo: Inpho)

The route for the An Post Ras 2012 appears to have been accidentally leaked online this evening, Wednesday, ahead of the formal launch tomorrow.

The sponsor had declined to release any of the details to journalists even under strict embargo ahead of tomorrow’s formal launch at the GPO in Dublin.

However, what appears to be the full route was published on An Post’s website this evening, perhaps as a test of the site ahead of tomorrow’s launch; a test the postage company probably believed would go unnoticed.

This year’s race covers 1,168kms with 28 categorised climbs, three of which are first categories.

The 2012 edition is the 60^th running of the event. The route was planned by former Ras stage winner Stephen O’Sullivan, who plans to ride his 18^th Ras this year.

The action gets underway on Sunday May 20th in Dunboyne, Co Meath; with stage finishes in Kilkenny, Gort, Westport, Bundoran, Buncrana, Killybeggs, Cootehill and finishing in Skerries.

The Stages

Stage 1, Sunday 20th May, DUNBOYNE – KILKENNY 147 Kms.
Stage 2, Monday 21st May, KILKENNY – GORT 158 Kms.
Stage 3, Tuesday 22nd May, GORT – WESTPORT 145 Kms.
Stage 4, Wednesday 23rd May, WESTPORT – BUNDORAN 135 Kms.
Stage 5, Thursday 24th May, BUNDORAN – BUNCRANA 149 Kms.
Stage 6, Friday 25th May, BUNCRANA – KILLYBEGS 134 Kms.
Stage 7, Saturday 26th May, DONEGAL – COOTEHILL 161 Kms.
Stage 8, Sunday 27th May, COOTEHILL – SKERRIES 139 Kms.

The stages in more detail

Stage 1

Sunday 20 May: Dunboyne - Kilkenny 147kms

DUNBOYNE START,
(Kilcock), Prosperous, Hill of Allen Hot Spot Sprint, Milltown, Kildare, Nurney, Athy, Ballylynan Post Office Hot Spot Sprint, Farnons Hill Category 3 KOM, Castlecomer, Glenmagoo Category 2 KOM & Hot Spot Sprint, Dunmore,
KILKENNY FINISH.

Stage 2

Stage 3

Tuesday 22nd May: Gort - Westport 145kms

GORT Start
Ardrahan, Galway, Moycullen Post Office Sprint, Roscahill, Oughterard, An Teach Deolta (Maam Cross), Tir na Cille Category 3 KOM, An Mám, Gowlaun Category 2 KOM, Finny, Maumtrasna Category 1 KOM, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh (Tourmakeady),
WESTPORT.

Stage 4

Wednesday 23rd May: Westport - Bundoran 135kms

WESTPORT start
Castlebar, Ballyvary, Charlestown, Tobercurry, Ballinacarrow, Sligo, Rathcormack, Drumcliff, Grange, Cliffony,
BUNDORAN.

Stage 5

Thursday 24th May: Bundoran - Buncrana 149kms

BUNDORAN,
Ballyshannon, Barnesmore Gap Category 3 KOM, Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Drumkeen, Maghera Beg Category 3 KOM, Burt Post Office Sprint, Burnfoot, Buncrana, Slavery Category 3 KOM, Old Mountain Category 3 KOM, Pinch Mountain Category 2 KOM, Clonmany, Dunaff, Mamore Gap Category 1 KOM, Old Mountain Category 3 KOM,
BUNCRANA.

Stage 6

Friday 25th May: Buncrana - Killybegs 134kms

BUNCRANA,
Burnfoot, Bridgend, Letterkenny, Meenirroy Category 2 KOM, Fintown, Glenties, Ardara, Glengesh Pass Category 1 KOM, Meananeary, Carrick, Bogagh Category 2 KOM, Kilcar, Bavin Category 2 KOM,
KILLYBEGS.

Stage 7

Saturday 26th May: Donegal - Cootehill 161kms

DONEGAL TOWN,
Bundoran, Kinlough, Rossinver, Kilthyclogher, Glenfarne Post Office Sprint, Dowra, Bellavalley Category 2 KOM, Bawnboy, Ballyconnell, Belturbet, Redhills, Scotshouse, Kavanagks Hill Category 3 KOM, Newbliss,
COOTEHILL.

Stage 8

Sunday 27th May: Cootehill - Skerries + 2 Laps of 13.7kms Circuit, 139kms

COOTEHILL,
Shercock, Kingscourt, Nobber Post Office Sprint, Wilkinstown, Gormanlough, Slane Category 3 KOM, Balrath Cross, Kilmoon Cross, Pluckhimin Category 3 KOM, Garristown, Naul, Balrothery, Cross of the Cage Category 3 KOM, Skerries, Black Hills Category 3 KOM, Skerries, Black Hills Category 3 KOM,
SKERRIES.