The Healy Pass and Coomanaspic, above, feature in this year's Kerry Group Rás Mumhan which starts on Good Friday March 25th and finishes on Easter Monday three days later (Photo: Stephen Kelleghan)
By Brian Canty
The route for this year’s Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, from March 25th to 28th, has been revealed and it features two of the hardest climbs in the southern province.
The Healy Pass has a long and storied history in Irish cycling and it’s back by popular demand on stage two while the viciously steep ascent of Coomanaspic also returns for stage three.
Coomanaspic was arguably where Sean McKenna of the Irish National Team won the race last year after he was first over the top and would end the day runner-up to stage winner Bryan McCrystal, who was riding for Asea.
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McKenna took the race leader’s yellow jersey from Páidí O’Brien (McCarthy Cycles-Osbourne Meats) at the conclusion of that penultimate stage and held it the following day.
Anyone hoping to make an impression on the final overall will need to pass the test posed by Coomanaspic, though its inclusion means the riders will not tackle Valentia Island this time around.
Coomanaspic is a really demanding climb and it’s an ascent that comes after 100 kilometres of racing – and 35 kilometres before the finish in Waterville.
The climbers will be able to assert their superiority but those who do not lose too much time may be able to get back to the front of the race before the finish.
Sean McKenna, front left in Irish team kit, is the defending champion and because he does not take up his place with An Post-Chainreaction until after his final college exams are completed, he will probably be back to defend his crown in Kerry at Easter (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
It’s a case of ‘as you were’ for the race’s other stages.
Easter Saturday is the longest stage of the race. It starts and finishes in Kenmare but not before completing 145 kilometres of hard racing, with the category one ascent of the Healy Pass coming after 30 kilometres.
A break is likely to go before this and could potentially go to the line if the composition is strong and willing.
Two years ago, Dylan Foley of the Irish National Team was in a break almost from the line and it stayed out front to the finish where he took a fantastic win.
After the Healy Pass, the race drops into Adrigole, Glengarriffe and Ballylickey and onto Ballingeary where the next significant climb starts.
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The cat 2 ascent of Reenaree is a hard and heavy road into Ballyvourney and even then there’s still a lot to play for.
The County Bounds is an exposed cat 2 climb and though there’s a fast descent, it can cause major problems.
At Poulgorm Bridge the riders turn left for Kilgarvan and on to the finish. These last 30 kilometres are flat so there could be a regrouping of sorts.
The descent of the Healy Pass can be just as lethal as the climb to the top, especially if it’s wet (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan – Inpho)
Meanwhile, stages one and four are the same as they’ve been in recent years.
The opener on Friday is always a no-holds-bar affair with the 105-kilometre leg starting and finishing in Killorglin.
Along the way the field will speed through Killarney, Kilcummin, Scartaglin, Castleisland, Currans, Ballyfinnane, Firies, Castlemaine and Milltown before returning to Killorglin.
The big pinch of the day – the cat 2 climb at Knocknaboul – is a sticky one and has been known to split the field.
The final day starts and finishes in Killorglin for what is always a drama-filled stage.
Three 20-kilometre laps of one circuit are followed by 10 laps of a four-kilometre circuit right up the sharp climb in the town.
Last year’s winner McKenna, who has since signed for An Post-Chainreaction - and his teammates patrolled matters superbly 12 months ago but final-day ‘smash and grabs’ are not unheard of; just ask Paddy Clarke and Ryan Sherlock who had victory snatched from their grasp in recent years.
Once again the best of the Irish teams will take part while there’s set to be a strong overseas contingent from the UK and mainland Europe.
Entry opens on February 21st with priority being given to A1 riders.
A maximum of 40 teams of five riders can enter with a maximum of two A3 riders per team.
Clubs and teams interested in taking part should contact the race secretary Mary Concannon by email at [email protected] or by phone at 00 353 64 6644396 or 00 353 87 2802071.
Full details of route and further information will be available shortly on the race website - RásMumhan.com.
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