The An Post Rás rolls out of Dunboyne, Co Meath, in mid May for eight days of fast and furious racing around the Republic.
The race has no cat 1 climbs and though there are 21 categorised ascents on the route, all of them bar two are cat 3.
Is this the route to suit the county riders more than previous years? We analyse the route stage by stage.
Stage 1 - Sunday, May 17th: Dunboyne to Carlow (154.4 km)
The race totals almost 1200 kilometres and begins once again in Dunboyne, a village with strong cycling tradition.
The race will begin there on May 17 with a 154.4 kilometres route to Carlow and is likely to be a very aggressive day. In addition to the battle for the yellow jersey, the mountains award plus points classification will very much be in mind.
There are four third category climbs in all, with these being located - after going through Maynooth and Straffan - at Sherlockstown (km. 23.9), Boherboy (km. 50.3), Hacketstown (km. 80.4) and Kilcommon (km. 91.2).
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In addition to that, the racing will be further enlivened by An Post Hotspot sprints at Naas (km. 28.7), Clonegal (km. 120.8) and Ballon (km. 132.5).
In contrast to subsequent days, time bonuses will be on offer in each of these three gallops, thus helping determine the top ten at the end of the stage.
However with a maximum of three points on offer in each of those intermediate sprints versus ten for the stage winner, the first yellow jersey will almost certainly go to the latter.
The one exception to this is if a rider were to place very highly in the intermediate sprints and also finish in the first three on the stage. Either way, there will be a dramatic end to the day’s racing in Carlow.
Race director Tony Campbell says: “This could be a very, very hard stage. I think it could be one of the hardest days of the lot.
"It is up and down all day, it is undulating the whole way around Tinahely and Dunlavin, and there are also three hotspot sprints offering bonus seconds and further livening things up.
“After those, there is a good run into the finish in the last 20 kilometres. I think there could be a large sprint, but it likely won’t feature the full peloton. There will likely be a few stragglers on that day.”
Stage 2 - Monday, May 18th: Carlow to Tipperary (137.2 km)
Day two begins close to the previous stage finish and is the second-shortest of the race. It extends 137.2 kilometres to Tipperary and includes two climbs.
These are the category three pairing of Nile Mile House (km. 63.6) and Aherlow (129.6).
The summit of the second climb is less than eight kilometres from the conclusion of the stage and if a group is not already clear at that point, it is certain that attacks will be fired off.
“Although the riders will be on main roads practically the whole day, I don’t think the wind will be a big factor”, says race director Campbell.
“The roads are wide, but there is plenty of shelter. I anticipate great racing as the roads will be very good for that.
"I think things will largely stick together, although there will probably be a few riders who go out the back on the last climb.
"I think that one could also shake up the top riders, but will likely not do too much damage.”
Stage 3 - Tuesday, May 19th: Tipperary to Bearna (155.9km)
A duo of category three climbs once again feature on day three, which runs 155.9 kilometres from Tipperary to Bearna.
The first of these comes 87.5 kilometres after the start at Aylebaun (km. 87.5), and is followed soon afterwards by Killanena (km. 95).
A flatter 25 kilometres follows and there is likely to be a lot of fast racing coming in the road, with sprinters’ teams trying to keep things together and others trying to escape their clutches.
“It could be a funny-enough stage”, predicts Campbell.
“It is twisting and turning and undulating until you get to the climbs. Then there is a fast run right into Galway.
"We come out about three miles outside Gort, and then you have a whole main job right from that into Galway.
"Bearna is only five miles on the other side of Galway, so there should be a fast run into the finish”.
“The winds won’t be too bad. There is very little shelter on the road in from Gort, but I don’t think it will do much damage on this day.
"I think there will be a sprint, but the stage will start weeding out a lot of riders.”
Stage 4 - Wednesday, May 20th: Bearna to Newport (155km)
A different style of racing may well emerge on day four, with the 155 kilometres from Bearna to Newport being held on exposed roads and winds likely to occur.
The lack of categorised climbs will be offset by likely echelons and very tactical racing, and there could well be major splits at the finish line.
“There are no climbs or An Post primes, but I think wind will be a huge factor”, says Campbell.
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“It is completely wide open all day. You are twisting and turning on yourself.
You are going out the West, then you are going south, then you are cutting across to the West again.
"I think there will be many different bunches scattered on the road that day. It could be a very crucial stage.”
Stage 5 - Thursday, May 21st: Newport to Ballina (142.4km)
The wind will likely play a big part again on the following day’s 142.4 kilometres from Newport to Ballina.
However, unlike the previous stage, climbs will also feature and the third category pairing of Glenlassera (km. 94.5) and at the Ceide Fields Neolithic site (km. 98.7) will spics things up.
The racing will also be enlivened by An Post sprints in Mulrany (km. 15.4), Ballycroy (km. 30.9) and Barnatrá (km. 69.6).
Race director Campbell said the stage would again feature undulating wide-open roads.
"The roads have been resurfaced near the gas fields and as a result the speeds could be very high.
"If riders in the bunch don’t have good speed in their legs, it could be a tough day for them”
“I think the wind could again be a big factor. The peloton could definitely split up coming in the road and there could well be two or three big groups at the finish.”
Stage 6 - Friday, May 22nd: Ballina to Ballinamore (160.1km)
The principal difficulty on stage 6 will be a combination of distance plus climbing.
The 160.1 kilometre leg from Ballina to Ballinamore is the longest of the race and while it features just two uphills.
The third category climb of Drumsheen (km. 11.7) is followed by a much tougher ascent over 100 kilometres later when the peloton reaches the 10.1 kilometre-long second category climb of Altinure.
It will be the most difficult climb up until that point of the race and uphill specialists who have been frustrated by the lack of opportunity will do what they can to break the grip of the peloton.
The climb is located just over 25 kilometres from the end and this points towards a very aggressive finale plus the possibility of more time gaps.
“This stage is the longest and includes the first of two category two climbs in the race, Altinure”, says Campbell.
"While it is not that steep, it is a long one and could break things up. I think a group will get away and there could be a small bunch coming into Ballinamore.”
Stage 7 - Saturday, May 23rd: Ballinamore to Drogheda (142.4km)
Day seven is another which features a category two climb. Early on the 142.4 kilometre leg from Ballinamore to Drogheda scales the third category climb of Leiter (km. 55.4), with the more difficult ascent of Moyer (km. 76.6) following approximately half an hour later.
The riders will then race on to an An Post sprint in Drumcondrath (km. 96.1), after which the category three Knockaleva climb (km. 108.7) is located just over 30 kilometres from the line.
“This stage has a second category climb which is like a climb you’d see in Wicklow”, describes Campbell.
“It is not really, really severe, but it comes at the point of the race where a lot of riders will be worn out.
“The subsequent third category climb is on a wide open road. It goes on for a couple of kilometres on a drag.
"But it could do damage and we could see a small group coming into Drogheda and fighting for the win.”
Stage 8 - Sunday, May 24th: Drogheda to Skerries (132.6km)
Skerries is once again the location for the final stage, but Campbell states that a change has been made to the closing hour this time around.
The riders will start in Drogheda and take in an An Post sprint in Kimessan, 35.1 kilometres after the drop of the flag.
This is followed just over 30 kilometres later by the first of five third category climbs, with the Newtown slopes (km 63.3) followed by the second climb at Ardgillan Castle (km. 83).
From there the riders will head into Skerries and cross the finish line for the first time, 91.4 kilometres after the start.
However, instead of two finishing circuits the riders will take in three, crossing the Black Hills category three climb on each occasion.
Race director Tony Campbell said race route planner Stephen O’Sullivan, a former winner of the queen stage at the Rás, had a clear reason in mind when adding the extra loop.
“We believe it could be very close in the overall standings and so the third lap could make a difference and decide the race right in the final minutes. It could be a very dramatic finale.”
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