There will be no Rás Tailteann in May but a new four-day stage race for Ireland’s domestic riders may take its place this year, it has emerged (Photo: Sean Rowe)
After first being staged in 1953 and having been a UCI-ranked event since the 1990s, Rás Tailteann will not be held this year.
Race director Eimear Dignam said she and her team were very disappointed at being unable to find a new sponsor.
But she insisted it was still possible a smaller race, which did not have UCI ranking, may still go ahead this year.
“There may be an option there for a three or four day race to be run by a separate organisation committee,” she said.
“It would be a smaller, non-UCI race. Those discussions will be held in the coming weeks.
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“Our hopes are that a smaller race will happen in 2019 and then the full international race will come back stronger than ever in 2020.”
Dignam had been talking in recent months to an Irish company about possibly sponsoring Rás Tailteann. But that company has still not made a decision either way.
And with time now against her, as the race was supposed to take place in May, Dignam has today made the call to announce there will be no Rás Tailteann this year.
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“We couldn’t drag things out for more weeks; we have already waited a long time to try to get something finalised,” she said.
“We are open to continuing those talks, though, and will do what we can to bring back the international event next year.”
Rás Tailteann was backed for decades by FBD Insurance before An Post, Ireland's national postal service, took over in 2011.
However, when An Post finished its backing of the race after the 2017 edition the event was forced into a search for a new backer.
It went ahead last year only due to the fact that a cash reserve had been put aside down the years.
And with that reserve now all spent, and the race costing about €300,000, a new backer was needed if this year’s edition was to take place.
But the search for a new sponsor has now unfortunately come up short despite the many efforts of the organisers.
“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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