The route for Rás na mBan has been announced, with two new stages including a short sharp TT around the grounds of Kilkenny Castle. That TT is part a split stage on the final day and may well ensure the destination of the overall title, and other classifications, goes right down to the wire.
After the 2.5km TT in the morning on the last day, the riders will then take in the traditional circuit race in the afternoon. Both formats will combine to ensure spectators get the chance to the see the racing unfold before their eyes from morning to afternoon.
As well as the new TT, as part of the reworked last day of action, this year’s stage 2 into Inistioge is also new and finishes in the grounds of Woodstock House.
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“It will be a unique challenge, one that the mountain goats and sprinters will relish equally,” said race director Valerie Considine of stage 2. “It’s a new destination for us with unexplored challenges and it’s great to be bringing the race to a new audience.”
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This year’s race is the sixth time the event will be based in Kilkenny. The challenges in store mean, as ever, there will be no soft victory by the time the action concludes in the Marble City on Sunday, September 11th.
The action kicks off on Wednesday, September 7th, with an afternoon stage of 75.3km from Kilkenny to Callan, followed by the 89km stage 2 into Inistioge the following day. The third stage then brings the riders into more familiar territory into the Slieve Bloom Mountains for The Cut summit finish, after which the pecking order will be well and truly established.
“The hilltop finish on The Cut follows the tough ascent of Wolftrap Mountain and with two tough climbs on the day, it’s sure to be a great test. The Rás na mBan summit finish has become established as a wonderful occasion in the cycling calendar,” said Considine.
“The, by now, very popular stage to Piltown has been switched to Saturday when legs will be starting to become heavy from four days of tough racing. Sunday’s final day has a very different look to previous years and the morning time trial followed by the afternoon circuit race combine to make both the shortest and fastest racing of the week.”
Rás na mBan 2022 | The deets
- Stage 1: Kilkenny (SHC) – Danesfort – Stonyford – Knocktopher – Kilmaganny – Windgap – Callan (75.3km) Route here
- Stage 2: Kilkenny (SHC) – Kells – Dunamaggin – Thomastown – Inistioge – The Rower – Graignamanagh – Thomastown – Inistioge (89km) Route here
- Stage 3: Portlaoise – Abbeyleix - Mountrath -Mountmellick – Clonaslee – Kinnitty – Wolftrap -The Cut (96km) Route here
- Stage 4: Kilkenny (SHC) – Stoneyford - Knocktopher - Ballyhale – Mullinavat - Piltown - 2 laps of circuit via Templeorum - The Sweep – Piltown (92km) Route here
- Stage 5: Individual Time Trial - Kilkenny Castle (2.5km) Route here
- Stage 6: Criterium The Parade – Nuncio Road – Waterford Road – Upper Patrick Street (1hr + 5 laps) Route here
