Speed and Tactics will be key to success
Unveiling a fast and tactical route which totals almost 1,200 kilometres, the organisers of An Post Rás today launched what could be one of the most suspenseful editions of the race in recent history.
Deliberately omitting some of the tough first category climbs that have featured in recent years, the emphasis this time around is on opening up the possibility of attacks at any point in the race. This change is set to add greatly to the unpredictability An Post Rás has long been known for.
The 2015 edition of the race will begin in Dunboyne, travelling clockwise around Ireland with stage finishes in Carlow, Tipperary, Bearna, Newport, Ballina, Ballinamore and Drogheda, before the customary finale in Skerries.
Scrapping it out over eight days, the riders will still have 21 categorised climbs to deal with. But with just two of these being second category, surprise attacks, high speeds and strong winds will likely be the biggest factors in shaking up the peloton and deciding the final overall result.
Announcing the route for the May 17th to 24th event in Dublin’s GPO, An Post Rás, Race Director, Tony Campbell anticipates a gripping contest.
“This year’s race is a lot flatter than recent years,” he stated. “However it is very rolling terrain and very exposed and there is very little shelter on a lot of stages.
“The riders are going to have to be careful of winds; if there are any sort of westerly winds, I would say they could be in big trouble. It is going to make for great racing and will also require good bike handling skills.”
As has been the case in recent years, the route was designed by Stephen O’Sullivan. Campbell said that the choice of terrain is intended to strike the right balance between the international and the domestic competitors. The new format will ensure that both groups can influence the outcome.
“Sometimes the flatter editions are the ones with the most attacking, the most action and the most tactics,” he said. “Riders will have to be vigilant every minute of the day.”
Double Olympian and former Rás winner David McCann was on hand to launch this year’s route alongside Irish riders Damien Shaw, Eoin Morton and Sean McKenna. McCann, who lifted the coveted trophy in 2004, believes this year’s route will make for a thrilling spectacle.
“It’s going to allow for typical Rás style racing with plenty of attacking, which is what we love so much about the race. It should be a great one for the neutrals and hopefully this year an Irish rider can take home the trophy.”
Day one of the race covers 154.4 kilometres from Dunboyne to Carlow and has been set up to ensure a fast, aggressive opener. It features four third category climbs at Sherlockstown, Boherboy, Hacketstown and Kilcommon each awarding points towards the King of the Mountains competition. It also includes An Post Hotspot Sprints at Naas, Clonegal and Ballon.
Time bonuses will be on offer at each of these three gallops, but larger bonuses at the finish mean that whoever wins the stage will don the first Yellow Jersey of the race.
At the GPO launch of Ireland’s top-ranked UCI race, An Post CEO, Donal Connell said:
“An Post is Rás sponsor since 2011 and we have seen things change for the positive in this time, with huge growth in cycling as a sport, a form of transport and as part of the leisure and tourism economy. An Post is part of this and we continue with our support for cycling at every level. This helps our business visibility, it allows us to be part of a positive change in the country and we see the huge and longstanding difference our support makes to An Post Rás, as it does with all of our sponsorships.”
Details of the international teams set to join this year’s An Post Rás will be released over the coming months. The An Post Chain Reaction Sean Kelly team has already committed to participating.
An Post Rás route 2015 (UCI 2.2, May 17th – May 24th):
Stage 1, Sunday May 17: Dunboyne to Carlow (154.4 kilometres)
Stage 2, Monday May 18: Carlow to Tipperary (137.2 kilometres)
Stage 3, Tuesday May 19: Tipperary to Bearna (155.9 kilometres)
Stage 4, Wednesday May 20: Bearna to Newport (155 kilometres)
Stage 5, Thursday May 21: Newport to Ballina (142.4 kilometres)
Stage 6, Friday May 22: Ballina to Ballinamore (160.1 kilometres)
Stage 7, Saturday May 23: Ballinamore to Drogheda (142.4 kilometres)
Stage 8, Sunday May 24: Drogheda to Skerries (132.6 kilometres)
Editor’s Notes:
Detailed Analysis:
Stage 1, Sunday May 17: Dunboyne to Carlow (154.4 kilometres):
The race begins on Sunday May 17th and, as has been the case every year since 2010, gets underway in the village of Dunboyne.
The route takes the riders through Maynooth and Straffan and after 23.9 kilometres, over the top of the third category ascent of Sherlockstown. This is the first categorised King of the Mountains climb in this year’s race and may act as a launch pad for a long distance break.
The riders then travel on through Sallins and Naas, with the first An Post Hotspot Sprint taking place outside the town hall, 28.7 kilometres after the drop of the flag. Then, after racing through Brannockstown and Dunlavin, the riders will pass the 50 kilometres elapsed sign and 300 metres later, sprint it out for the third category climb of Boherboy.
Another third category climb follows on the way out of Hacketstown. It is named after the town and comes just over halfway through the stage at the 80.4 kilometre mark. Yet another ascent of the same categorisation rears up at Kilcommon (km. 91.2), helping to decide who will wear the first King of the Mountains jersey at the end of the race.
The speed will continue to climb in advance of An Post Hotspot Sprints at Clonegal (km. 120.8) and Ballon (km. 132.5), with the latter bringing the riders towards the final twenty kilometres and a likely dramatic showdown for the day’s main honours on the streets of Carlow.
Race Director Tony Campbell said “That could be a very, very hard stage. I think it could be one of the hardest days of the lot. It is up and down all day, it is undulating the whole way around Tinahely and Dunlavin, and there are also three Hotspot Sprints offering bonus seconds and further livening things up.
“After those, there is a good run into the finish in the last 20 kilometres. I think there could be a large sprint, but it likely won’t feature the full peloton. There will likely be a few stragglers on that day.”
Stage 2, Monday May 18: Carlow to Tipperary (137.2 kilometres):
Starting outside Carlow Post Office and close to the previous day’s finish, day two is the second-shortest of the race at 137.2 kilometres. It takes the riders through Paulstown, Cuffsgrange and Poulacapple before a two kilometre ascent to the summit of the category three Nile Mile House climb (km. 63.6).
Once over the summit the riders will hurtle on to Cahir and then Bansha before hitting the identically-ranked Aherlow climb, which peaks just 7.6 kilometres from the finish line in Tipperary.
“Although the riders will be on main roads practically the whole day, I don’t think the wind will be a big factor”, says Campbell. “The roads are wide, but there is plenty of shelter”.
“I anticipate great racing as the roads will be very good for that. I think things will largely stick together, although there will probably be a few riders who go out the back on the last climb. I think that one could also shake up the top riders, but will likely not do too much damage.”
Stage 3, Tuesday May 19: Tipperary to Bearna (155.9 kilometres):
Stage three is another day featuring just two categorised climbs, but Campbell says the roads are constantly rolling and twisting and that this will add a difficulty which the route details don’t convey. The 155.9 kilometre leg runs from Tipperary to Bearna and passes through locations such as Monard, Oola, Dromkeen, Newport, Birdhill, Broadford and Feakle prior to the category three ascent of Aylebaun (km.87.5).
The day’s second category three climb follows in quick succession, with the prime line of Killanena coming 7.5 kilometres after the previous summit.
The bunch will race on from there and over level crossings at Kiltartan and Ardrahan before hitting the 25 kilometre to go point and continuing on to the finish.
“It could be a funny-enough stage”, predicts Campbell. “It is twisting and turning and undulating until you get to the climbs. Then there is a fast run right into Galway. We come out about three miles outside Gort, and then you have a whole main job right from that into Galway. Bearna is only five miles on the other side of Galway, so there should be a fast run into the finish”.
“The winds won’t be too bad. There is very little shelter on the road in from Gort, but I don’t think it will do much damage on this day. I think there will be a sprint, but the stage will start weeding out a lot of riders.”
Stage 4, Wednesday May 20: Bearna to Newport (155 kilometres):
On paper this fourth stage may seem tame enough, with a lack of categorised climbs along the 155 kilometres from Bearna to Newport. However Campbell believes the route through An Spidéal (km. 7.1), Leenane (km. 89.8), Louisburgh (km. 120.8) and Lecanvey (km. 129.2) will have a clear difficulty for the riders: Gusting winds on wide open roads, which promise echelons, acting and ruptures in the peloton.
In the past such stages have led to big time splits and if gusts are blowing, this could well be the case again.
“There are no climbs or An Post Primes, but I think wind will be a huge factor”, says Campbell. “It is completely wide open all day. You are twisting and turning on yourself. You are going out the West, then you are going south, then you are cutting across to the West again. I think there will be many different bunches scattered on the road that day. It could be a very crucial stage.”
Stage 5, Thursday May 21: Newport to Ballina (142.4 kilometres):
An Post Primes and climbs make a reappearance on day five, a 142.4 kilometre dash from Newport to Ballina. The former appear outside the post offices in Mulrany (km. 15.4), Ballycroy (km. 30.9) and Barnatrá (km. 69.6), and are then followed by the third category pairing of Glenlassera (km. 94.5) and at the Ceide Fields Neolithic site (km. 98.7).
Campbell noted that this stage “will again feature wide-open roads which are undulating. The roads have been resurfaced near the gas fields and as a result the speeds could be very high. If riders in the bunch don’t have good speed in their legs, it could be a tough day for them”
“In addition to that, I think the wind could again be a big factor. The peloton could definitely split up coming in the road and there could well be two or three big groups at the finish.”
Stage 6, Friday May 22: Ballina to Ballinamore (160.1 kilometres):
The longest stage of the race takes the riders up the early third category climb of Drumsheen (km. 11.7) before expected attacks continue as the bunch moves through Sligo, (Tobercurry, Ballinacarrow, Ballygalwey and Manorhamilton).
After continuing through Glenfarne and Dowra, the riders will reach what is the most difficult climb yet in the race, the 10.1 kilometre second category ascent of Altinure. This comes just over 25 kilometres from the end of the race and will almost certainly produce splits, with the resulting groups battling over the remaining distance prior to the finish in Ballinamore.
“This stage is the longest and includes the first of two category two climbs in the race, Altinure”, says Campbell. While it is not that steep, it is a long one and could break things up”.
“I think a group will get away and there could be a small bunch coming into Ballinamore.”
Stage 7, Saturday May 23: Ballinamore to Drogheda (142.4 kilometres):
The penultimate day of the race also features a second category climb, but prior to reaching that the riders will skirmish along roads which take them through Newtowngore and Killeshandra and over the third category climb of Leiter (km. 55.4).
After continuing through Ballieborough (km. 70), the 4.5 kilometre category two ascent of Moyer rears up and will act as a possible launchpad for attacks from fresher riders. The summit of this is after 76.6 kilometres of racing, just past the halfway point, and after the descent the riders will encounter an An Post sprint in Drumcondrath (km. 96.1) and the category three Knockaleva climb (km. 108.7).
The final 25 kilometres will see a lot of racing as those trying to take the yellow jersey do what they can to try to wrest free en route to Drogheda.
“This stage has a second category climb which is like a climb you’d see in Wicklow”, describes Campbell. “It is not really, really severe, but it comes at the point of the race where a lot of riders will be worn out”
“The subsequent third category climb is on a wide open road. It goes on for a couple of kilometres on a drag, but it could do damage and we could see a small group coming into Drogheda and fighting for the win.”
Stage 8, Sunday May 24: Drogheda to Skerries (132.6 kilometres):
The last stage of the race is the shortest but Campbell says that a modification has been made to the finale which could bring about a last gasp change in the overall standings.
After the drop of the flag in Drogheda the bunch will race through Donore and Navan prior to an An Post Prime in Kilmessan, 35.1 kilometres in. The first of five third category climbs will rear up at Newtown (km 63.3) followed by the second at Ardgillan Castle (km. 83).
Soon afterwards the peloton will race into Skerries and cross the finish line for the first time, 91.4 kilometres after the start. They will then begin three 13.7 kilometre finishing laps, each bringing them across the Black Hills category three climb and providing opportunity to strong riders who are chasing overall victory or the stage win.
“The last stage is familiar to those who have been at previous editions of the An Post Rás, in that it finishes once again in Skerries” says Campbell. “It’s actually the tenth year that we are doing so and that finale has been absolutely fantastic for the race. There is a fantastic committee putting it together, and each year it is just better and better”
“This time we have put in an extra lap of the finishing circuit. We believe it could be very close in the overall standings and so the third lap could make a difference and decide the race right in the final minutes. It could be a very dramatic finale.”
