STAGE 5, THURSDAY 26TH MAY, CASTLETOWNBERE – BLARNEY 156KMS.
Castletonbere, Adrigole, Traflask, Loughavaul Category 3 KOM, Glengarriff, Derrycreha Category 3 KOM, Ballylickey, Bantry, Ardyhoulihane Category 3 KOM, Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Ballineen Hot Spot Sprint, Enniskean, Moskeagh Category 2 KOM, Windy Gap Category 2 KOM, Coachford, Dripsey, Inniscarra, Blarney.
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| Stage Profile |
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| Last 3km. Map |
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| Last 3km. Profile |
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| Blarney Town Map |
The second half of the race gets underway in Castletownbere on Thursday May 26th with an undulating 156 kilometre stage to Blarney. A quartet of third category mountain primes will animate the race at Traflask (km. 16.8), Loughavaul (km 25), Derrycreha (km. 36.8) and Ardyhoulihane (km. 53), giving breakaway groups scope to go clear prior to the Post Office Prime sprint at Ballineen (km. 94).
After heading through Bandon, the peloton will clash on the second category climbs of Moskeagh (km. 120.2) and Windy Gap (km 130.7). Those mountains should be tough enough to split the field, and the stronger riders will slug it out in the battle for the yellow jersey between the summit of the latter and the finish in Blarney some 25.3 kilometres later.
“With six KOM climbs on the way to Blarney, I think it will certainly be a ding-dong battle all the way,” says Dignam.
