Rás Tailteann cancelled for 2019: The Rás Tailteann has failed to find a new sponsor despite a two-year search. Above, the An Post-Chainreaction team on the front of the lined out breakaway during what turned out to be an epic Rás stage 3 from Bearna to Newport in 2015 (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
The organisers of Rás Tailteann have confirmed the news the Irish cycling community did not want to hear; that the race will not be run this year.
It will be the first time since the event was established in the 1950s that it will not be staged.
Race director Eimear Dignam and her team have been looking for a new sponsor for almost two years, but none has been found to date.
FBD Insurance backed the race for decades until An Post, Ireland’s national postal service, assumed the title sponsorship in 2011.
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The 2017 edition was An Post’s final year supporting the Rás. And while the event went ahead last year, over the usual eight days in May, it did so without a title sponsor.
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Continuing last year was only possible because a reserve fund had been set aside down the years.
However, because that was spent on the 2018 edition, Rás Tailteann needed a new backer for this year’s event.
And now after a protracted search, during which Irish and international companies were approached, still no sponsor has been found.
As a result, Dignam and her team have this evening, Thursday, confirmed the race will not take place this year.
“We have exhausted all opportunities in relation to sponsorship for a UCI race this year,” said Eimear Dignam.
“I am extremely disappointed. I have been involved in the race my whole life.
“But I am satisfied that I explored every opportunity to us to secure a sponsorship.
“We never envisaged that it would come to an end like this, but hopefully it won’t be an end.
“The 2019 international event will be put on hold with the hopes of coming back stronger in 2020.”
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