Plans to host a 2020 edition of Rás Tailteann are still intact and the organisers say they are now examining holding the race in September.
This year’s race was initially set to be held over five
days in June but those plans were suspended due to the Covid19 pandemic.
However, though a lot of uncertainty remains, Ireland is
accelerating the re-opening of society after the Covid19 lock-down. And now Cáirde
Rás Tailteann is bullish about the prospects of holding the event this year.
The group has wisely stopped short of fixing at specific
date at this point, but it says the outlook is “increasingly positive” and that
there might be a window to hold the five-day event, which is not UCI-ranked
this year, at the end of the season.
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It will review the situation in just over two weeks, June
29th, when the Government’s new four-phase plan for easing restrictions
was expected to be clearer.
‘’It was agreed this week that the most prudent course of
action at this time would be to extend our decision of April last and aim to
set a very tentative start date toward the latter end of September next, using
the same published route,” said race director Eugene Moriarty.
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“All of this is of course still very heavily contingent
upon any restrictions that may still be in place, the availability and support
of the Gardai, county councils, the health services, accommodation and the many
volunteers upon whom the Rás relies so heavily and which we cannot realistically
know for some time yet.
“We were bitterly disappointed that circumstances
conspired to prevent the Rás returning to the roads of Ireland this week, but
the wellbeing and safety of all our volunteers and athletes as well as the
general public continue to remain at the top of our agenda.”
Seamus Domegan, Rás Tailteann stage end coordinator, said
the organising group was being supported by a lot of people in what are
uncertain times.
“We received phenomenal support from all of our stage end
committees throughout this difficult period for which we are very grateful,” he
said.
“Every one of them have provided a commitment from the
outset to help ensure that the 2020 edition would go ahead from their end if at
all possible”.
He added “the flexibility and understanding shown by our
stage end accommodation providers has been crucial to us still being able to
look forward to a potential 2020 Rás at this point”.
Pat O’Shaughnessy and Colm Rigley of Cáirde Rás Tailteann
said Cycling Ireland has been supportive and was continuing to assist with
plans to hold the race this year, hopefully in September.
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