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2016 An Post Rás Route Promises Great Suspense
By An Post Rás
Feb 17, 2016, 18:13
Beginning at Dublin Castle and totalling over 1200 kilometres, the route of the 2016 An Post Rás was unveiled today.
This year’s edition of the race will travel anti-clockwise around Ireland with stage finishes in Multyfarnham, Charleville, Dingle, Sneem, Clonakilty, Dungarvan and Baltinglass before the customary finale in Skerries.
The opening stage from Dublin Castle ensures an historic setting for Ireland’s toughest annual sporting event. As ever, the race will see some of Ireland’s top amateur riders compete against professional riders and seasoned internationals around the world.
In total, the race features 25 climbs, with the category one ascents of Conor Pass, Ballaghisheen Pass and Mount Leinster the toughest of those. However, they won’t be the only obstacle; rolling roads and strong winds will also play a part in the outcome, as will the tactics and aggression of those fighting for the jerseys and stage honours.
Announcing the route for the May 22nd to 29th race in Dublin’s GPO, An Post Rás Race Director, Tony Campbell believes it will be one of the most exciting editions to date.
“A lot of riders thought it was going to be an easy An Post Rás last year due to the flatter roads, but they got a big surprise with how things worked out.
“This year has some big climbs but is also similar in profile to the 2015 edition, and should lead to some really exciting racing. There are an awful lot of rolling roads, and these will wear people down over the course of the week. It will be unpredictable which will make it a thrilling spectacle.”
Former World Track Champion, Martyn Irvine, was on hand to launch this year’s route alongside top Irish riders Eddie Dunbar and Bryan McCrystal. Irvine, who recently announced his retirement from the sport, believes the county riders will be licking their lips when they see the route.
“The Rás is unlike any other race in the world. On one side you have the international riders coming from abroad and on the other you have amateur riders here who train on this terrain all year round chomping at the bit for a win. We saw it with the likes of Ian Richardson and Bryan McCrystal last year; they were putting it to the best riders from around the globe on every stage and it was great to see. I’m sure this year, after seeing the route, there will be Irish guys in the mix.”
After leaving Dublin Castle on Sunday May 22nd, the 64th edition of the An Post Rás will officially begin with the drop of the flag in Clonee. The opening stage to Multyfarnham is 144.6 kilometres in length and features An Post Hotspot Sprints in Bohermeen, Kells and on the first passage of the finish line in Multyfarnham.
Each of these sprints offer time bonuses which will count towards the first general classification, while the first King of the Mountains jersey will be awarded on the basis of the third category climb at Lough Crew.
At the GPO launch of Ireland’s only ranked UCI race, An Post CEO, Donal Connell said:
“2016 is a massive year for An Post, with the GPO at the heart of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. We are sponsor of An Post Rás for the sixth year and this race, in its 64th year, is part of the history of Irish sport and Irish life. It really is a case of two trusted and iconic enterprises working together to bring a great event to towns all over Ireland this May. We hope that the local public will come out to support us this year, as they have done every year.”
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.
2016 An Post Rás Route (UCI 2.2, May 22nd – May 29th):
Stage 1, Sunday May 22: Dublin Castle to Multyfarnham (144.6 kilometres)
Stage 2, Monday May 23: Mullingar to Charleville (183.7 kilometres)
Stage 3, Tuesday May 24: Charleville to Dingle (133.2 kilometres)
Stage 4, Wednesday May 25: Dingle to Sneem (162.8 kilometres)
Stage 5, Thursday May 26: Sneem to Clonakilty (148.3 kilometres)
Stage 6, Friday May 27: Clonakilty to Dungarvan (159.1 kilometres)
Stage 7, Saturday May 28: Dungarvan to Baltinglass (155 kilometres)
Stage 8, Sunday May 29: Kildare to Skerries (148.4 kilometres)
Detailed Route Analysis:
Stage 1, Sunday May 22: Dublin Castle to Multyfarnham (144.6 kilometres):
Day one of the 2016 An Post Rás begins at Dublin Castle, the historic surroundings tie in with the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. After signing on takes place, the riders will roll out and begin a 15 kilometre neutralised section, passing by Christchurch Cathedral, the Guinness Brewery and Heuston Station, moving through the Phoenix Park and out to Clonee.
Racing begins here, with the flag dropping at 12.30 and the riders beginning a 144.6 kilometre battle for the first yellow jersey.
High speeds are certain as the race moves through Dunshaughlin, Navan and then Bohermeen, where the first An Post Hotspot Sprint will take place just under 24 kilometres after the start. A second follows 7.4 kilometres later in Kells (km. 50.4), offering up more bonus seconds.
The route winds through Maghera, Virginia and Oldcastle prior to the first official climb of the race, the category three ascent of Lough Crew (km. 53.9). From there the riders will hurtle through Castlepollard, battle it out in the An Post Hotspot Sprint in Multyfarnham (km. 125.3) and then complete a 19 kilometre finishing loop before the final sprint in Multyfarnham.
Stage 2, Monday May 23: Mullingar to Charleville (183.7 kilometres):
Stage two of the race is the longest at 183.7 kilometres, but features mainly flat roads and will almost certainly be characterised by high speeds. The route passes through Tullamore after 30 kilometres. It then continues on through Riverstown, Nenagh and Silvermines prior to the day’s sole categorised climb at Shallee (cat. 3, km. 120.3). From there the riders will continue their battles through Newport and on to Caherconlish, where an An Post Prime will further enliven things 147.4 kilometres after the drop of the flag.
That gallop is within the final hour of racing and will pre-empt a dash to the finish line, which will take place on Charleville’s main street.
An Post Rás Race Director Tony Campbell’s assessment:
“This is the longest stage of the race. It is pretty flat, with just one climb, but it will be very fast. The first two stages will be very speedy. It is up to the riders to make the race, and they will.”
Stage 3, Tuesday May 24: Charleville to Dingle (133.2 kilometres):
From the longest stage to the shortest, day three of the An Post Rás is just 133.2 kilometres in length. However, it contains one of the hardest climbs in the race and could well see big chances made in the general classification.
The early part of the race is flat and fast, moving through Freemount and Newmarket before a Post Office Prime in Ballydesmond (km. 48.2). Soon afterwards the riders will battle it out on the category three ascent of Knockabout Cross (km. 51), then scrap for honours at the Post Office Prime in Scartaglen (km. 60.6).
After that the race moves through Castleisland, Tralee and Stradbally. The peloton then races on to the category one climb of Conor Pass (km. 126.1), with the summit located just 7.1 kilometres from the finish in Dingle and certain to break things apart.
An Post Rás Race Director Tony Campbell’s assessment:
“This is a very rolling stage. It was very hard to categorise the climbs as they kept rising and dropping, but it is hard going. The riders will also do the Connor Pass, hitting a big climb after two flat stages. I think it will play a big part in the general classification.”
Stage 4, Wednesday May 25: Dingle to Sneem (162.8 kilometres):
More climbs follow on the 162.8 kilometre race from Dingle to Sneem, with the first of those – the category three ascent of Lispole – coming just 9.8 kilometres after the start. After racing through Inch, Castlemaine, Milltown, Killorglin and Cappaghmore, the riders will begin the much tougher Ballaghisheen Pass, with the category one slopes finally relenting 87.4 kilometres in.
After that the peloton will battle it out in an An Post Sprint in Waterville (km. 111.1), on the category two climb of Coomakista (km. 118.6) and at the category three ascent of Letterfinish (km. 156.2). From there less than seven kilometres remain before the final sprint in Sneem and the halfway point of this year’s An Post Rás.
An Post Rás Race Director Tony Campbell’s assessment:
“This is a very rolling stage. Coomakista is a long climb and it could do damage in the bunch. It is a very deceiving climb. The last five kilometres before the finish in Sneem will be very fast, not least because they are resurfacing the whole road.”
Stage 5, Thursday May 26: Sneem to Clonakilty (148.3 kilometres):
Day five is a 148.3 kilometre dash from Sneem to Clonakilty and is another stage featuring a number of climbs.
Early on it moves through Kenmare, Castletownbere and Bonane, then the riders will tackle the second category ascent of Caha Pass (km. 49.5). The descent brings the peloton to Glengarriff, home town of the late actress Maureen O’Hara, and location for a Post Office Prime at Memory Lane (km. 53.4).
Very soon afterwards the category three Glengarriff Climb (km. 56.9) rears up and after moving through Bantry the riders will sprint it out for the points atop the category three Glanlough (km. 80.1).
The riders will be cheered on through Ballydehob and Skibbereen prior to the day’s penultimate climb, the third category Glandore (km. 117.8). This is followed 18.3 kilometres later by the first passage over the finish line, and the start of a 12.2 kilometre finishing circuit which includes the category two McCurtain Hill (km. 137.1).
This could well act as the platform for late attacks, giving those challenging for the yellow jersey a chance to put some pressure on.
An Post Rás Race Director Tony Campbell’s assessment:
“We are using the tunnel road of Caha Pass. The guys will have a good three kilometres of draggy roads before the climb, which will be hard. The climb of Glanlough is next and it is a sticky rise through the village, which could do damage.
“The stage then finishes with a circuit, and so takes in the hill up to the finish twice. That climb goes on quite a way after the finish line, so that final lap could well break things up.”
Stage 6, Friday May 27: Clonakilty to Dungarvan (159.1 kilometres):
Things appear flatter on stage six, with the climbing limited to a trio of category three ascents. The first of these is at Windy Gap (km. 35.6), with the second after the towns of Coachford, Donoghmore and Mallow. The climb of Rathcormack Mountain (km. 94.7) leads the riders on to Aghern, Conna and Curraglas prior to the day’s third ascent, Knockroe (km. 127.8). However, there are many draggy roads too, making things tougher than they seem on paper.
The finale will see the riders hurtle through Lismore and Cappoquin before the final sprint into Dungarvan.
An Post Rás Race Director Tony Campbell’s assessment:
“The race is going over all the back roads around north County Cork. It is a very, very rolling day and while there are only three categorised climbs, it is a very sticky stage. The only time the guys will get a straight run on flat roads is from Lismore to Dungarvan. I don’t expect the bunch to come into Dungarvan together.
Stage 7, Saturday May 28: Dungarvan to Baltinglass (155 kilometres):
Unless the gaps are tight in the general classification, the penultimate day of racing could prove to be the last chance for those trying to take the yellow jersey to make their move. The 155 kilometre leg from Dungarvan to Baltinglass has four climbs, including a category one ascent, and will be hard-fought.
The first of those rears up at Killinaspick (category 3, km. 46.4) and, after Mullinavat and Inistioge, the second and third occur at Ballygallon Hill (category 3, km. 76.8) and Raheendonore climb (category 3, km. 80.8).
The peloton will then race through Graiguenamanagh and Borris prior to the day’s biggest mountain, the category one Mount Leinster (km. 106.2).
The riders will then hurtle down the descent and on through Tullow and Rathvilly prior to the finish in Baltinglass.
An Post Rás Race Director Tony Campbell’s assessment:
“Another very rolling stage. There is a tricky little road between Inistioge and Graiguenamanagh and damage could be done there. There could also be big changes going up Mount Leinster.
“After the summit, there will be a very fast run in from Bunclody to Baltinglass, and so gaps could be closed down again. Although it is possible for a rider to stay clear, as happened two years ago when Liam Holohan won the stage.”
Stage 8, Sunday May 29: Kildare to Skerries (148.4 kilometres):
The final day of racing will be familiar to those who have competed in recent editions of the An Post Rás, travelling on many of the same roads which lead to the crowd-thronged finale in Skerries.
The stage begins in Kildare and passes through Prosperous, Kilcock, Dunsany, Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Curraha prior to the first of five category three climbs, that of Pluckhimin (km. 78.2). Coming after the village of Naul, the next climb, Cross of the Cage (km. 97.8), brings the riders onto the 13.8 kilometre finishing circuit and begins the final countdown to the crowning of the 2016 An Post Rás champion.
Following the first passage over the finish line (km. 106.2), the peloton will begin the first of three ascents of the Black Hills climb. These ascents come at kilometre 111, 124.9 and 138.8 and offer a last-gasp chance for attackers to chase the stage win and overall honours.
An Post Rás Race director Tony Campbell’s assessment:
“On the final stage we have three laps of the finishing circuit. We introduced that third lap last year and it did some damage in the finale, adding to the suspense, and so we decided to keep it in.
“We think the people of Skerries deserve that, they come out in their groves every year to support the race and it’s great to see. You never know what could happen the third time up the climb.”
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