The organisers of this year's An Post Rás na mBan have changed the split stage from Friday to Saturday, which should lend to more attacking racing earlier in the week. Another top-class international field is expected to descend on Co Clare for it (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan - Inpho)
With 10 categorised climbs and almost 400 kilometres of racing over five days, this year's An Post Ras na mBan - from September 9th to 14th - would appear to rival anything that has gone before.
The country's most prestigious stage race for women will attract a very international field and the number of changes to last year's route should only enhance the quality of the racing.
The big talking point is the new stage; appropriately named the 'Beast of the East'. It becomes stage three; starting and finishing in Scariff.
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Four of the ten categorised climbs take place on this day and by stage end there should be a very clear picture of how the general classification is shaping up.
In her role as race organiser, Valerie Considine said this particular stage is one riders will need to be well prepared for.
Fiona Meade's race last year was the stuff of dreams as she was never out of the top group in the results. She took a stage win and the points classification. She carried that form into the rescheduled national championships and won that, before securing a place with the Fearless Femmes team in the US for the current season (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan - Inpho)
"The introduction of this stage allows us to try new and challenging roads in a part of Clare we'll be visiting for the first time," she said.
"In addition, we've tweaked the first and last stages to give the riders the best possible sporting experience and to bring the race to the public."
It's the 10th anniversary of the race this year and for the fifth year in-a-row An Post will sponsor the event.
This includes a morning time-trial followed by an afternoon crit and should keep the battle for general classification close right up until Sunday's concluding leg.
The event begins on Wednesday September 9th with a 68 kilometre stage starting at race headquarters - the Inn at Dromoland near Quin in C Clare.
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The mainly flat route includes one classified climb and finishes at Barefield near Ennis.
Olivia Dillon taking stage 5 last year. She should be back again this time around and, if so, will challenge for overall victory and stage wins (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan - Inpho)
Day two is the 'Wild Atlantic Way stage' riders made their way along the Clare coastline from Loop head lighthouse in the south of the county to Ballyvaughan in the north.
Stage three is the aforementioned 'Beast of the East'; a gruelling 80-kilometre leg with the most amount of climbing of any day.
Stage four on Saturday is the familiar short 'out and back' individual time trial at Barefield near Ennis.
Coming this year on the penultimate day of racing, the 8km test will create further divisions in general classification, or allow some of the stringer testers move back up the standings.
Later on Saturday, the fifth and penultimate stage is the familiar 10 lap, 41km circuit race at Ballyalla, a chance for the sprinters to shine.
The final stage is a slightly revised version of last year's final stage which provided possibly the best racing of the week.
The 85 kilometre loop skirts the Shannon Estuary in the south west of the county before making its way back to a new finish line in the heart of Ennis.
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