Ireland's premier race for women, Rás na mBan, gets underway late this afternoon with the first of six stages in Co Kilkenny and there are a number of Irish companies sponsoring the 2022 edition.
Johnson & Perrott Fleet, a leading vehicle fleet specialist firm in Ireland, is supplying support vehicles this year while the Irish Veteran Cyclists' Association (IVCA)-Wicklow 200 is once again sponsoring the queen of the mountains classification. Just-Print.ie is sponsoring the stage winner's jersey while Pactimo Ireland, the cycling apparel company, has produced the classification leader jerseys for the event.
Like Rás Tailteann - the biggest elite men's stage race in Ireland - Rás na mBan is still searching for a title sponsor. But the event has stayed on the roads, under race director Valeria Considine, with the help of its secondary backers.
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There are six separate classification jerseys in Rás na mBan, which also have the support of other backers. The magenta jersey is for the overall race leader while there is also a Sport Ireland points classification, Wicklow 200 queen of the mountains, the WomensCycling.ie best young rider, the Kilkenny County Council best Irish rider and the Just-Print.ie stage winner’s jersey.
Jonathan O'Brien, managing director of Johnson & Perrott Fleet said his company was delighted to support the event this year.
"Rás na mBan is the epitome of commitment, focus, speed, quick decision making and flexibility - all qualities which are complementary to our brand values," he said.
"Cycle racing in general, and Rás na mBan in particular, is a perfect forum to showcase Johnson & Perrott Fleet's diverse range of vehicles and the solutions we can deliver for our clients."
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Race director Considine said the continued support for our event by the IVCA was "a source of great pride and reflects a great integration" between the IVCA and Rás na mBan.
"Many of the event volunteers, including myself, are active racing members of the IVCA and have ridden or volunteered at Wicklow 200, one of Ireland's longest running sportives," she said. "The battle for the climber's classification is always particularly entertaining and, looking at the quality of the race entry, this year will be no exception."
Pactimo Ireland’s Mandy Collie said the cycling clothing company was "delighted" the leading riders in the race would wear its jerseys.
“This is an amazing event which celebrates riders who line up and challenge themselves across tough terrain and often very tough weather amongst a field of highly competitive local and international riders," she said.
“Pactimo have a clear focus on providing cycle clothing specifically for women and we are pleased to be supporting the riders with their clothing throughout the five-day race."
Justin Byrne, chief executive of Just-Print.ie said: “Rás na mBan is a fabulous race with which we share the same values of quality, presentation and style.
“This is the ideal platform for us to display the design and quality of Just-Print.ie products. We look forward to presenting the Just-Print.ie Stage Winners jersey and to seeing it in the bunch each day in this inspiring event.”
Today's opening stage is a 74km road race from Kilkenny city to Callan and gets underway at 4.45pm. Best of luck to Considine and her team, all the riders and the support crews and officials.
