Rás na mBan, the biggest stage race for women in Ireland, has been cancelled this year due to the insurmountable challenges posed by Covid19.
Race director Valerie Considine and her team had
continued to work away on plans for the race, in a delayed slot, in the hope it
could be held this year.
However, despite those best efforts the continuing
Covid19 pandemic, with recorded cases increasing of late in Ireland again, has
meant the organisers have been forced to cancel the 2020 edition.
While that decision was a tough one to make, and represents a blow to Irish cycling in a difficult year, it is perhaps not unsurprising. It comes after Considine and her officials did all they could to keep the race on the road this year.
The race organisers issued a statement today, the day
before the initial date of stage 1 of the 2020 race in Kilkenny, saying their
attention was now switched to next season.
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While the event had initially been planned to start
tomorrow, a decision was taken in mid July to postpone it in the hopes
conditions would allow it to be run next month.
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However, the race is an international event and with
continued restrictions on international travel and Covid19 cases on the
increase, not to mention a decimated season for the riders that would have been
taking part, it has now been decided to scrap this year’s race.
Planning has already begun for next year, when the race
will take place over five stages in early September and will be based again in
Kilkenny.
News that the organising group is already looking ahead
to next year, and already has some plans in place, means the immediate future
of the race is secure.
“It’s been a difficult time for all involved in the race
but we’ve been mindful of the need to do the right thing for the race, for the
competitors, for the volunteers and for other supporters who attend the event,”
Considine said in a statement today.
“To that end, it’s nice to have finally made a decision
to refocus our energy and attention on running the race next September. A lot
of the groundwork has already been done.
“We’ve kept lines of communication open with our
volunteers and sponsors who understand the difficulties we’ve faced and we’ve
been thrilled with the overwhelming support we’ve received.
“To the international and local riders who had been
hoping to race this year we apologise and we sincerely hope to see you all in
Kilkenny in 12 months time."
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