After five years in Kerry, An Post Ras na mBan moves to a new base in Ennis in 2013 for the first time, from where it will take in six stages in five days from September 11 to 15.

 

The challenging and varied route involving more than 400 kilometres of racing covers well-known destinations throughout Clare including Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan.

The National Dairy Council has announced it will sponsor the points classification jersey.

The race features 16 categorised climbs.  It has four tough road stages plus a team time trial on the morning of the third day, followed by a short circuit ‘criterium’ stage in Ennis town centre in the afternoon.

The blue National Dairy Council Points Jersey will be worn by the rider who shows the most consistency in finishing in the top finishing positions and will be presented to the classification leader at the end of each of the six stages. 
It mirrors the Tour de France classification won four times by Ireland’s Sean Kelly.

Welcoming the support of NDC, race director Valerie Considine said, “We’re thrilled that the National Dairy Council have come on board to support the race and the introduction of the NDC Points jersey is an important addition to the classification list in     
It offers an important target for the fast finishers and good all round riders.”

There has been strong international interest in the 2013 An Post Rás na mBan, with teams from nine different countries already confirmed, including two squads travelling from the United States. Overall and team champions, Team Rytger from Denmark, have also confirmed they will return to Ireland in September to defend their titles.

This year is the 27th anniversary of the start of international stage racing for women in Ireland, beginning with the John Hearn Memorial Women’s Three Day in 1986.

The 2013 Rás na mBan is the eighth edition of the race. The Women’s Commission of Cycling Ireland took over promotion of Ireland’s leading women’s stage race with the creation of the two-day, Dublin-based Ras na mBan in 2006.  The race expanded to three days and moved to Sneem in Kerry in 2008.

It further expanded to a five-day event in 2011, establishing its position on the international cycling calendar.

 

Tour de Munster coming to the county

The annual Tour de Munster   takes place from this Thursday until Sunday.
The event will see 110 amateur cyclists cycle over 600km around the six counties of Munster in aid of beneficiary Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI Munster branches).

Last year’s event raised a staggering €280,000 and they are hoping to raise even more this year. 
The participants will  finish stage one of their journey in Clare. Stage two of the cycle will also pass through much of the county.

The cyclists will be at the Lakeside Hotel in Killaloe on Thursday.
On Friday they will depart from Killaloe at 9am, Tuamgraney at 9.45am, Ennis (lunch at St Flannan’s from 12.to 1.30pm), Kilrush at 2pm and Killimer (ferry) at 2.30pm.