Rás 2020 Posponed Due To Covid 19 Virus

The Big Bunch

Following the recent developments and recommendations from Cycling Ireland, the UCI, the HSE, Sport Ireland and the Government of Ireland.

Cáirde Rás Tailteann has decided to postpone the 2020 Rás Tailteann which was due to return to the roads of Ireland in June 2020 after a hiatus in 2019. This is directly as a result of accelerating developments relating to the Covid-19 virus pandemic.

"Considering the nature of the public health emergency Ireland and the world is currently dealing with and the progressive evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cáirde Rás Tailteann has decided that it is in the best interests of everyone associated with the event and the wider public to temporarily postpone the 2020 event from its planned start date on June 10th next" said Eugene Moriarty, the 2020 Race Director.

He added “The decision to postpone has not been taken lightly, but when we consider the on-going restrictions that are in place, the current workload of An Garda Síochána, County Councils and the Health Service, all of whom play integral roles in an event of this stature, we feel it is only appropriate that planning for the 2020 Rás does not add to the immediate burden faced by our critical frontline public servants”

Cáirde Rás Tailteann will continue to monitor the situation and provide any updates that may be relevant as more information becomes available. The group has made many preparations for the 2020 event and currently is now actively working toward staging Rás Tailteann in the latter half of the 2020 racing season, after July.

They will continue to work with Cycling Ireland to promote the event on any suitable date that may become available before the end of the 2020 season. They will reassess the situation in the first week of June and release a formal update thereafter.

According to Ger Campbell the 2020 Route Designer “we do not foresee any changes to the route that has been published, so it will be a matter of managing any changes that may be necessary in relation to a change of dates. This is of course contingent on any opportunity that may become available to put the Rás safely back on the roads of Ireland later in 2020, if the prevailing circumstances would allow and most importantly that it is safe to do so”

Cáirde Rás Tailteann understand that the decision to postpone is disappointing to all the teams, riders, officials, supporters and the wider sporting public who expressed such overwhelming support for the return of the event to the roads of Ireland in 2020.

However, they are confident that should pandemic abate there is no reason currently that could prevent 2020 Rás from going ahead in the latter half of the season.

Cáirde Rás Tailteann

Seamus Domegan, Pat O’Shaughnessy, Gerry Campbell, Colm Rigley, Eugene Moriarty, Ciaran McKenna

Race Director:

Eugene Moriarty,

T: +353 86 8114248