The organisers of Rás Tailteann have today unveiled the route for the 2023 edition, which will unfold from May 17th to 21st as expected. Race director, Ger Campbell, said the course is harder than last year, with one of the stages also 176km; a distance that will shake up the field.
On the second day of racing, into Ennis, Co Clare, the presence of four climbs within 25km - followed by another 25km to the finish - may result in time splits early in the five-stage event. However, all of the stages - full details set out below - have the potential to cause damage.
The stage starts, finishes and distances are:
- Stage 1: Navan to Birr 154.8km
- Stage 2: Birr to Ennis 154.5km
- Stage 3: Ennis to Castlebar 149.3km
- Stage 4: Charlestown to Monaghan 176.9km
- Stage 5: Monaghan to Blackrock 133.4km
The opening stage - starting in Navan, Co Meath - is notable for the climb of Wolf Trap, crested 20km before the finish in Birr, Co Offaly. The second day of racing takes the riders from Birr to Ennis, Co Clare. It features four climbs in the last 50km; three of them cat 3s, coming in quick succession, as well as the cat 2 Mount Mask.
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The third stage - from Ennis to Castlebar, Co Mayo - may be one for the sprinters, though knowing the Rás that will prove to be so fast the field blows to pieces. Stage 4 starts from Charlestown and takes the riders to Monaghan Town for the finish, with the second half of the course very undulating and three cat 3 climbs to test the legs. There is a sting in the tail at the finish, with the final 300 metres uphill to the line outside Monaghan Cathedral.
The organising group, Cairde Rás Táilteann, has stuck with Blackrock, Co Louth, to host the big finish on the final day, which starts in Monaghan. There are four laps, of 11.1km, to contend with once the riders reach Blackrock, which will be a slightly changed and extended circuit compared to last year.
Rás Tailteann 2023 | The Route
Stage 1: Navan-Birr
After a ceremonial start in Navan - marking 70 years of Navan Road Club - the race will travel mostly on flat roads taking in two cat 3 climbs within the first 90km. The final part of the stage gets much tougher as the race crests the cat 1 Wolf Trap mountain climb 20km from the finish. A fast run-in to Birr via Kinnity concludes the stage. Not a day when the race can be won but a day that could put riders out of contention from the off.
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Stage 2: Birr-Ennis
Stage 2 will be a tough day in the saddle as the race departs from Birr and makes its way along the rolling roads of North Tipperary, skirting Lough Derg and taking in the cat 3 climb in Portroe before crossing the Shannon into Killaloe. The final 50km of the stage could be very telling with three back-to-back cat 3 climbs and the cat 2 Maghera Mast climb all featuring. A relatively flat final 25km into the finish at Barefield awaits on the outskirts of Ennis town.
Stage 3: Ennis-Castlebar
Stage 3 is dedicated to the memory of Tommy Devereux, a Castlebar native and stalwart of Irish cycling & Rás Táilteann who sadly passed away in December 2022. On paper, it's a day for the sprinters, with mostly fast and flat roads making up the route. But there are two cat 3 climbs thrown in for good measure. The route takes in the towns of Ardrahan, Craughwell, Athenry, Tuam and Ballinrobe before making its way into Castlebar for a finish on Lanagh Road.
Stage 4: Charlestown-Monaghan
The race transfers to Charlestown for the longest stage of Rás Táilteann 2023, some 176km. The first half of the stage features mainly flat roads passing through Tulsk, Strokestown and Longford. The race then makes a directional change northwards in Longford, then featuring harder roads for the second half of the stage. The undulating roads through Co Cavan, where three cat 3 climbs are featured, are sure to take their toll on the riders before a relatively flat run-in from Clones to Monaghan town. The final twist of stage 4 is the last 300 metres uphill to the finish outside Monaghan Cathedral.
Stage 5: Monaghan - Blackrock
After a ceremonial start in the centre of Monaghan town, the riders will make their way through the towns of Ballybay, Shercock, Kingscourt, Drumconrath, Ardee, and Castlebellingham before passing onto a slightly tweaked and extended finishing circuit in Blackrock. The riders will complete 4 laps of an 11.1km circuit before they become 'Men of the Rás 2023'. Stage 5 also features one cat 3 climb, at Meath Hill, en route to Blackrock. After last year's thrilling finale, more of the same is promised in the beautiful Co Louth seaside town this time around.
