Route unveiled for An Post Rás; big climbs left out to encourage attacks

The absence of any really tough climbs, with no cat 1 ascents at all, on this year's An Post Rás may suit county men and is designed to encourage attacking (Photo: Stephen Kelleghan)

Reversing a trend of mountainous routes for the An Post Rás, the parcours of the 2015 edition has been unveiled today in Dublin’s GPO and sees a predominance of flat and undulating roads taking the place of big climbs.

Although the eight day race will include 21 categorised ascents, 19 of those are third cat and just two are second category.

There are no first cat climbs on this year’s route, thus making things much more difficult for uphill specialists to thrive.

Instead, a rider who can handle high speeds, who is good in echelons and who has a strong tactical sense is the most likely final winner of the 2.2-ranked UCI event.

Race director Tony Campbell believes that the route will enable attacks to come at any point during the May 17 – 24 contest.

“This year’s race is a lot flatter than recent years,” he stated.

Climbs or no climbs, the An Post Rás will still be a savage affair when the flag drops in Dunboybe next May (Photo: Ramsey Cardy - Sportsfile)

“However it is very undulating and very exposed, and there is very little shelter on a lot of stages.

“The riders are going to have to be careful of winds; if there are any sort of westerly winds, I would say they could be in big trouble.

“It is going to make for good racing, and will also require good bike handling skills.”

As has been the case in recent editions, the route was designed by Stephen O’Sullivan, a seasoned Rás competitor, a former stage winner.

He came up with the revised layout, with one motivation; to enable more balanced competition between the international and domestic competitors.

Campbell notes that while the route is flatter, it will not necessarily make for an easier race.

In fact, for those trying to win overall, the dearth of major climbs could well make things more complicated.

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While riders tend to dread the hilly stages more, it is sometimes the flat days - especially the wet ones - that do all the damage in the An Post Rás (Photo: Sean Rowe)

“Sometimes the flatter editions are the ones with the most attacking, the most action, and the most tactics,” he said.

“Riders will have to be vigilant every minute of the day.”

Double Olympian and former Rás winner David McCann was on hand to launch this year’s route alongside Irish riders Damien Shaw, Eoin Morton and Sean McKenna.

McCann, who lifted the coveted trophy in 2004, believes this year’s route will make for a thrilling spectacle.

“It’s going to allow for typical Rás style racing with plenty of attacking, which is what we love so much about the race,” he said.

“It should be a great one for the neutrals and hopefully this year an Irish rider can take home the trophy.”

A former winner of the race and a man who has carved his name deep into its history, David McCann believes this year's event will be marked by plenty of all-out aggression.