The organisers of the Tour of Ulster have unveiled a tough race route and ambitious plans to make the race more international. Rás Mumhan is also shaping up as an epic Easter battle; above last year's Tour of Ulster winner Damien Shaw in stage win mode.
The 2015 editions of two of the country’s biggest stage races, the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan and the ‘AmberGreen Energy Tour of Ulster’, have officially been launched.
Rás Mumhan will take place over the weekend of April 3rd to 6th - Good Friday to Easter Monday.
The format of the race will remain the same as previous editions, with the riders set to battle it out over four road stages and a total distance of over 500km.
Once again the field will be upwards of 200 riders with teams from Ireland, the UK and Europe set to take to the start.
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The details of the stages have yet to be revealed but some changes are expected.
However, the details of the 'AmberGreen Energy Tour of Ulster' have been unveiled, with the riders set for a mammoth challenge over four days on the May Bank Holiday weekend; May 1st to 4th.
Starting with a prologue in Belfast, the riders will head to Newry for the first road stage finish on Saturday and then onto Armagh and Cookstown, Co Tyrone, where there will be two stage finishes on consecutive days.
The race is set to attract riders from Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Italy, Holland, the UK and Ireland.
Kerry Group Rás Mumhan has become an epic race over the years and the 2015 edition looks set to be no different (Photo: George Doyle)
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Chairman of the host company AmberGreen Energy, Neil O’Brien said his company's backing of the race came a time of boom for Irish cycling.
“The appetite in Northern Ireland for cycling is unbelievable. Earlier this year, figures revealed that cycling and mountain biking tourism is worth about £100m (€126m) to the Northern Ireland economy.
"This is a sport which has phenomenal support, with people donning their cycle gear at every available opportunity, in hail, rain or shine.
"We are delighted to take this opportunity to show our commitment to the people of Northern Ireland, to celebrate the legacy of the Giro d'Italia and to begin a long term relationship with Ireland's most famous cycling race.”
AmberGreen Energy Tour of Ulster Route
- Stage 1 - Belfast Prologue – Stormont Estate 2 up race.
- Stage 2 - Belfast (AmberGreen Energy Boucher Road) – Carryduff – Saintfield – Crossgar – Downpatrick – Clough – Newcastle (Bryansford Road, Spelga Dam) – Kilkeel – Rostrevor – Hilltown – Rathfriland – Mayobridge – Warrenpoint – Newry.
- Stage 3 - Newry – Camlough – Newtownhamilton – Keady – Markethill – Hamiltonsbawn – Richill – Armagh – Caledon – Aughnacloy – Ballygawley (Whitebridge Road) – Pomeroy - Donaghmore – Cookstown.
- Stage 4 - Cookstown – William Street – Orritor Road – Tulnacross Road – Flo Road – Omagh Road – Tullagh Road – Fairhill Road – James Street – William Street – Cookstown.
Rás Mumhan
Clubs and teams interested in taking part should contact organiser Mary Concannon by email at [email protected] or by phone at 00 353 64 6644396 and 00 353 87 2802071.
Further information is available on www.rasmumhan.com
Reigning Rás Mumhan champion, Mark Dowling will likely be back again to try to defend his crown against a top field over a testing route (Photo: Pat Doherty)
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