Ras Mumhan has provided some great racing down the years from the likes of Kerry’s Paul Griffin, pictured here leading Tim Barry, Rory Wyley and others.
The infamous Conor Pass on Kerry’s windswept Dingle peninsula will play host to the international field in this year’s Rás Mumhan, with the second stage to finish on the summit of the feared climb.
Featuring four stages from Good Friday to Easter Monday - April 6th to 9th – the race has again secured the backing of the Kerry Group and will be based in and around Killorglin.
With last year’s event featuring a summit finish atop of the 3.3 mile Conor Pass ascent, the organisers have decided to include it again. It should ensure fireworks as the riders battle up the pass to grab a stage win and climb to the top of the general classification.
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The full route of all four stages has not yet been disclosed. However, the race organisers have told stickybottle there will be a number of changes to the routes followed in recent years.
While the finale of Saturday’s stage will be fought out up the Conor Pass, Sunday’s stage will see the riders take in roads in south Kerry and there will be, as yet undisclosed, changes to the first and last stages.
The race will feature almost 500km of lumpy roads around The Kingdom. Last year’s winner Sean Lacey will return to the scene of his triumph with his new Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes squad in a bid to keep the silverware in the Republic.
Victory in the international stage race has gone to an Irish rider ever year since 2004, when Russell Downing took the win for England.
Race director and well known Kerry cycling figure, Tadhg Moriarty said he and his fellow race organisers were delighted to be going into this year’s event with the continued backing of the Kerry Group.
“They’re one of the top sporting sponsorship brands in this country and the fact that they’re continuing their sponsorship of the event is a huge statement that the race is continuing to go from strength to strength each year.”
Kerry Group director of corporate affairs, Frank Hayes said it was the international food group’s fourth year sponsoring the event; a record the company was proud to continue. He added the race had grown into an international fixture of some standing and had played a key role in the development of the Irish cycling scene.
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“Kerry Group Rás Mumhan is now recognised both at home and abroad as one of the top stage races in Ireland and Britain,” he said.
“This is our fourth year as title sponsors of the race which continues to grow in stature each year in terms of both the competitive nature of the race and the way in which the race is organised. This is due to the hard work and dedication of the local cycling club in Killorglin along with all the clubs in Kerry and further afield, who put their weight and experience behind the race.”
As soon as full details of the route become available, stickybottle will have that information for you.
A note from the organisers….
Clubs, teams or individual riders interested in taking part in the race should contact the Race Secretary, Mary Concannon:
Tel: 00 353 64 44396 / 00 353 87 2802071, [email protected].
For any further information please contact:
Race Director/Press Officer Tadhg Moriarty 00 353 87 2443360 [email protected]
Kerry Group’s Maria Rohan 00 353 66 7182309
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