A major new cycling challenge, RACE THE RÁS, involving some of the best known GAA inter-county stars in the country was launched in Croke Park this morning. A core group of 50 footballers and hurlers will ride the entire eight days of the AN POST RÁS and will be joined by additional GAA legends for stages into their home county.
The GAA stars will ride the same route as the AN POST RÁS riders leaving each stage town roughly three hours before the race and will attempt to arrive in the finish town before the real racers. While it’s expected the 160 AN POST RÁS riders representing national teams, pro teams and at least 16 county teams will close the gap over the long gruelling mountain stages the possibility of a hurler or a footballer crossing a finish line first can not be ruled out.
The event is the brainchild of Eamonn O Muircheartaigh who has already attracted such well-known recently retired footballers, Ciarán Whelan, Anthony Rainbow, Paul Early and Graham Geraghty, and hurlers Tony Griffin, Paul Flynn, Dan Shanahan, Joe Dean and Seán óg óhAilpín.
The idea behind Race the Rás is to raise funds for a number of worthy cancer charities through the Irish Cancer Society and also the sporting charity GOAL. The main logo on the Race the Rás jersey will be the the “Sunsmart” logo which is promoting the Irish Cancer Society’s skin cancer awareness campaign which is run through the month of May.
The Race the Rás will begin on Sunday 22nd May at 8am in Dunboyne village as part of the Dunboyne cycling festival. GAA President Christy Cooney has agreed to start the Race the Rás challenge.
For more details on Race the Rás log on to; http://racetheras.com/
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| Dublin Footballer Alan Brogan At The Launch In Croke Park |
