A wide range of locations across the Banner County have been included in the route for this years edition of Ireland’s premier International Cycle Race.
The route for Rás Tailteann 2023 will include a Stage Finish and Stage Start in County Clare.
On Thursday May 18th, the Rás will pass through Killaloe at 12:50 and travel to Ogonnelloe, Tuamgraney & Scariff, before climbing the 4 categorised climbs including Maghera.
The race will proceed onto the Gort road and pass through Crusheen, before finishing at Barefield National School at approximately 2.30pm
Meanwhile on Friday the 19th , the Rás will depart from Glór, Ennis at 11am, with a neutral start through the town before heading to Castlebar.
The neutral start will take the cyclists along Francis Street, passing the Abbey and over the Club Bridge, before heading out past the Courthouse and out the Gort Road. The race will officially start from Ballymaley.
The Rás Headquarters will be in the Treacy’s West County Hotel.
You can find full details of this years Rás Tailteann route below.
Thursday 18 May – Stage 2
The Rás stage is 154.5km from Birr, Co Offaly and finishing at the Barefield National School at approx. 2.30pm
It will be a tough stage for the cyclists with 5 categorised climbs on the route, with 4 of these categorised climbs coming in the last 50km of the race.
The stage will pass through Killaloe at approx. 12:50 and travel to Ogonnelloe, Tuamgraney, Scariff, before climbing the 4 categorised climbs including Maghera.
The race will proceed onto the Gort road and pass through Crusheen, before finishing at Barefield National School at approx. 2.30pm
Friday 19 May – Stage 3
The Rás will start from Glór, Ennis at 11am, with a neutral start through the town before heading to Castlebar.
The neutral start will take the cyclists along Francis Street, passing the Abbey and over the Club Bridge, before heading out past the Courthouse and out the Gort Road. The race will officially start from Ballymaley.
The Rás Headquarters will be in the Treacy’s West County Hotel.
There has only been one Irish winner in the last 14 years and last year’s winner, Daire Feeley, All Human Velo Revolution Team will be hoping he can repeat his performance in this year’s event.
There are 175 riders with teams from the USA, UK, Europe as well as the Cycling Ireland national team and club teams.
The Rás brings the worlds elite riders to town and some of these riders will go on to ride the Tour de France in the coming years.
The legend cyclist Stephen Roche was a previous winner of the Rás, while former Rás stage winners Sam Bennett, Ryan Mullen, Jai Hindley, Shane Archibald and John Degenkolb will all ride in this year’s Tour de France.