The organisers of Rás Tailteann have said a race will not take place this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and they have decided to put their focus into near year’s edition.
The 2017 edition of the race was the last one held with a
full title sponsor, in the shape of An Post. It went ahead, funded by cash
reserves, in 2018 but the race did not take place in 2019 due to lack of
sponsorship and funds.
Last year the event was due to take place in June as a five-day
event, rather than eight days, and without UCI ranking. However, the new
organising group, under race director Eugene Moriarty, had their plans
scuppered last year due to the pandemic and the race had to be called off.
Unfortunately, with pandemic-related uncertainty
continuing this year, the organisers have been forced to call off this year’s
race but have promised an edition of Rás Tailteann next year.
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The decision by organising group Cáirde Rás Tailteann, which is not unexpected and is understandable, was announced early on Friday morning.
‘’We are
exceptionally disappointed to be put in this position again, effectively for
the third time in twelve months, said race director Eugene Moriarty.
“The uncertainty
in relation to the availability and reopening of hospitality due to Covid-19
restrictions, plus the challenges facing the roll out of vaccinations to the
wider population in time for June, coupled with the risks currently emerging in
the form of new variants of the Covid-19 virus, significantly informed our
decision process.”
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However, the
former top cyclist turned Rás director added with the vaccine roll-out
continuing, there was a big opportunity to hold a race next year when
conditions were more conducive.
“The silver
lining to this turn of events for all of us is that it has now given us more
time to consider a return to the traditional length of the event,” Moriarty
said, adding the same route than had been planned for last year and again this
year would be used next season but possibly with some additions.
“We are going to
assess the addition of extra stages to the current route. To potentially return
An Rás closer to its historical, increasingly unique and rare eight-day format
on the world stage,” he said.
“And of course we
would never rule out a return to UCI status if it could be achieved post=Covid.
Clearly, though, there remain many elements that need to fall into place over
the next 12 months for this to be successful.”
Route designer
Ger Campbell said when the route was initially designed for 2020, and the
carried over for the hoped-for 2021 edition, it was put together with flexibility
in mind.
“The overarching
goal still is to cater primarily for domestic national level competitors and
Internationals of the same calibre, regardless of length of the event,” he
said.
“But (we hope to)
to incorporate more innovative elements into the route that we know have worked
exceptionally well in the past for competitors, spectators, sponsors and crucially
the stage end locations.”
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