How does 47.72kmph average speed on Rás compare to major pro races?

Riders are often most concerns about climbs but very often its the speed on the flat days, especially in crosswinds and tailwinds, that does the most damage (Photo: Sean Rowe)

Today’s stage 4 of Rás Tailteann was unforgiving. While most riders
will immediately scan the route of a major race for climbs, it is often the
flatter days – especially when the crosswinds and tailwinds blow – that do most
of the damage.

When the north westerlies hit the riders today on the 154.1km
stage from Lisdoonvarna to Kilbeggan the peloton was lined
out in the gutter on the wrong side of the road for long stretches.

As the speed hit 60kmph, the
gaps at the back inevitably opened and riders were distanced with relentless frequency.
The average speed today – some 47.72km per hour – was savage. But how does it
compare to professional races?

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ProCyclingStats compiles
data on all aspects of pro racing and one of details it ranks is average speeds
in every UCI-ranked race in the world. It runs a live chart of the 50 races with
the fastest average speeds; ranking them 1st to 50th.

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Today’s average speed on
the Rás would rank the race into Kilbeggan as the 11th fastest bike
race this year. The only reason why the race is not on the list is because the
Rás is not a UCI-ranked race.

There are, of course, a whole
variety of factors that influence average speed; elevation being just one. However,
it is interesting to see how today’s Rás stage compares globally, especially
when five of the top races in the top 10 were shorter than the race in Ireland
today.

Top 20, with Rás stage 4 added

  1.  Adriatica Ionica Race / Sulle Rotte della Serenissima | Stage 1 51.957kmph (193.8km)
  2.  Belgrade Banjaluka | Stage 2 51.780kmph (122km)
  3.  Vuelta a Colombia | Stage 3 49.038kmph (116.9km)
  4.  Tour of Japan | Stage 4 48.920kmph (112km)
  5.  ZLM Tour | Stage 2 48.716kmph (183.2km)
  6.  Scheldeprijs 48.457kmph (198.7km)
  7.  Belgrade Banjaluka | Stage 5 48.407kmph (154.5km)
  8.  Tour de Hongrie | Stage 2 48.134kmph (192km)
  9.  Olympia’s Tour | Stage 1b 48.110kmph (74.6km)
  10.  Tour of Sharjah | Stage 2 47.741kmph (95.35km)
  11. Rás Tailteann | Stage 4 47.71kmph (154.1km)
  12.  Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana | Stage 5 47.662kmph (92km)
  13.  Tour d’Eure-et-Loir | Stage 1 47.590kmph (161.5km)
  14.  Vuelta a Formosa Internacional | Stage 2b 47.438kmph (102.4km)
  15.  Saudi Tour | Stage 5 47.307kmph (138.9km)
  16.  Grand Prix Nasielsk-Serock 47.249kmph (140km)
  17.  La Route d’Occitanie – La Dépêche du Midi | Stage 2 47.213kmph (33.6km)
  18.  ZLM Tour | Stage 1 47.131kmph (100.9km)
  19.  Grand Prix Justiniano Race 47.122kmph (156.3km)
  20.  Paris – Nice | Stage 2 47.077kmph (159.2km)
  21.  Tour du Loir et Cher | Stage 1 47.065kmph (147km)

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