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2006
SEVERE TEST FOR FBD INSURANCE RÁS RIDERS.
The route for this year’s FBD INSURANCE RÁS 8 Day International Cycle Race, announced today by race organiser, Dermot Dignam, presents an exceptionally formidable challenge to the 150 top-class riders from at least 10 countries expected to line up for the start on Sunday 21st May. Twenty-three KOM climbs, six stages over 150 kilometres in length, a team time trial plus a down-to-the-wire final stage are just some of the highlights in a gruelling twelve hundred and thirty kilometre course that will see first-time ever stage finishes in An Cheathru Rua, Clara and Skerries, and return visits to Enniscorthy, Cobh, An Daingean, Listowel and Westport. The combination of so many climbs and the big number of long stages provide a dramatic backdrop to a number of innovative changes that will challenge even the most resilient of riders. Not least of all will be the history-making team time trial in the Galway Gaeltacht village of An Cheathru Rua, when, on Friday 26th May, for the first time ever, the general classification of riders will be affected by the results of a team time trial. The race leader could stand to lose 15 seconds by his team finishing a mere one second behind the winning team. The battle of the teams will be an intriguing contest in a beautiful setting. Running a close second in the most-severe challenge stakes is the introduction of a full stage of racing on the final day of the event. Gone is the traditional short-circuit low distance criterium - in its place a 155 kilometres contest from Clara in county Offaly to the north county Dublin town of Skerries, where, following two tough laps taking in the Black Hills near Ardgillaun Park the winner of the 2006 FBD Insurance RÁS will finally be decided.
An overview.
The world ranked contest gets underway on Sunday May 21st with a 121 kilometre stage from Dublin to Enniscorthy. Two category three KOM climbs, Hot Spot sprints that could decide the destination of the race leaders yellow jersey plus some high speed racing will make for an exciting start to the eight day event.
Day two sees the riders tackle the longest stage of the 2006 FBD RÁS, a marathon 180 kilometre leg from Enniscorthy to Cobh. The riders encounter three KOM climbs on the otherwise fast open roads through New Ross and Waterford before tackling a steep uphill finish at Cobh Cathedral.
Another uphill sprint finish features at the end of the third stage from Cobh to An Daingean (Dingle). However, before reaching the end of the 173 kilometre leg, the peloton will slug it out over four category three KOM ascents earlier in the day. The last of these, An Bharog Bheag, is situated just 13 kilometres from the finish in An Daingean’s Main Street, providing an excellent springboard for a stage-winning attack. The stage into An Daingean will honour the achievement of the great Paudi Fitzgerald from the town in winning the race 50 years ago and who is organiser for this year’s stage finish.
Stage 4 on Wednesday 24th is perhaps the most difficult of the race and will be of crucial importance to those with designs on winning the 2006 FBD RÁS. Taking place entirely in Kerry, the tough roads of The Kingdom are likely to have a dramatic effect on the shape of the general classification. A total of seven KOM climbs pepper the 150 kilometre route from An Daingean to Listowel, including the gruelling category one climb of The Maum outside Castleisland. A feature of this stage is the exceptionally wild coast and cliff scenery in the neighbourhood of Slea Head and the crossing of the famous ford near Dun Chaoin. But, perhaps, it will be in the final 30 kilometres of severely undulating open road through Reanagown and Finuge that the stage winner will emerge on this unforgiving, uncompromising stage.
While not quite swapping pedals for paddles the riders – plus the huge entourage - will avail of the most efficient way of getting from Kerry to Clare by travelling on the Shannon Ferry to the start of Stage 5 in Kilrush. A slight respite for this stage in so much as there is just one climb to be tackled, but the 178 kilometres from Kilrush to An Cheathru Rua (Carraroe) will bring some fast, furious racing through Lisdoonvarna, Clarinbridge, Galway and Oughterard. After the second category KOM climb of Seanafeistin, the roads towards the finish are narrow and uneven, helping any breakaway groups which may have formed to stay clear and leading, no doubt, to a frantic chase from the main field.
Saturday 27th May is the penultimate stage of the 2006 FBD Insurance RÁS and so the stakes will be high. Although there are no categorised climbs along the 168 kilometre route from Westport to Clara, the inevitable clash between the race favourites should result in some fast, tactical racing as the peloton speeds through towns such as Claremorris, Castlerea, Roscommon and Moate to a first-ever finish in the midland town.
Twenty-four hours later the field will slug it out for the final time as the race reaches its exciting climax with another tough, demanding stage. In what is an exciting break with tradition, the last day will be a fully-fledged road stage rather than a circuit race, increasing the tension in the tussle for the final yellow jersey. The riders will face a total of four KOM climbs between the start in Clara and the finish in Skerries, including one on each of the two laps of a tough 13.7 kilometre finishing circuit. It will be a nailbiting and dramatic end to what should be a superb edition of Ireland’s biggest cycling race.
The race is again sponsored by FBD Insurance and is included on the select list of international events eligible to award qualification points for inclusion in Olympic Games and World Cycling Championships. The race receives valuable financial support from the Irish Sports Council.
FBD INSURANCE RÁS 2006 ROUTE DETAILS.
Stage 1, Sunday 21st May, Dublin – Enniscorthy, 121 Kms. Tallaght, The Embankment Category 3 KOM & Hot Spot Sprint, Blessington, Naas, Kilcullen Hot Spot Sprint, Castledermot, Knocknacree Category 3 KOM & Hot Spot Sprint, Tullow, Bunclody, Enniscorthy.
Stage 2, Monday 22nd May, Enniscorthy – Cobh, 180 Kms. Enniscorthy, Clonroche, New Ross, Glenmore Category 3 KOM, Waterford, Dungarvan By-Pass, The Sweep Category 2 KOM, Youghal by-Pass, Youghal Category 3 KOM, Killeagh, Castlemartyr, Cobh.
Stage 3, Tuesday 23rd May, Cobh – An Daingean, 173Kms. Cobh, Jack Lynch Tunnel, Macroom, Baile Mhic Ire, Baile Bhuirne, County Bounds Category 3 KOM, Glenflesk, Killarney, Fossa, Crohane Category 3 KOM, Faha, Milltown, Castlemaine, Boolteens, Inch, An Draighneain Category 3 KOM, An Bharog Bheag Category 3 KOM, Lios Póil, An Daingean.
Stage 4, Wednesday 24th May, An Daingean – Listowel, 150 Kms. An Daingean, Ceann Trá, Fahan Category 3 KOM, Baile Icín Category 3 KOM, Dún Chaoin, Casadh na Graige Categoey 3 KOM, Baile An Fheirtéaraigh, Baile na hÁith Category 2 KOM, An Daingean, Líos Póil, Garraí na dTor Category 3 KOM, An Draighneain Category 3 KOM, Inch, Boolteens, Castlemaine, Firies, Farranfore, Castleisland, The Maum Category 1 KOM, Reanagown Crossroads, Finuge, Listowel.
Transfer from Tarbert, Co. Kerry, to Killimor, Co. Clare by SHANNON FERRY.
Stage 5, Thursday 25th May, Kilrush – An Cheathrú Rua, 179 Kms. Kilrush, Cooraclare, Creagh, Quilty, Milltown Malbay, Lahinch, Ennistymon, Lisdoonvarna, Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Ballindereen, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge, Galway, Moycullen, Oughterard, Seanafeistin Category 2 KOM, Casla, An Cheathrú Rua.
Stage 6, Friday 26th May, An Cheathrú Rua Team Time Trial, 24 Kms. An Cheathrú Rua, An Tulach, Caorán na gCearc Theas, Ros a mHil, Casla, An Cheathrú Rua
Stage 7, Friday 26th May, An Cheathrú Rua – Westport, 83 Kms. An Cheathrú Rua, Screeb Cross, Maam Cross, Tir na Cille Category 3 KOM, Maum, Culliagh More Category 3 KOM, Leenane, Carrowkennedy, Aghagower, Westport.
Stage 8, Saturday 27th May, Westport – Clara, 168 Kms. Westport, Castlebar, Balla, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis, Ballinlough, Castlerea, Ballymoe, Roscommon, Knockcroghery, Athlone By-Pass, Moate, Clara.
Stage 9, Sunday 28th May, Clara – Skerries + 2 Laps of Circuit, 155 Kms. Clara, Kilbeggan, Tyrellspass, Rochfordbridge, Milltownpass, Kinnegad, Trim, Drumree, Dunshaughlin, Rathoath, Curragha, Pluckhimin Category 3 KOM, Garristown, Naul, Balrothery, Cross of the Cage Category 3 KOM, Skerries, Black Hills Category 3 KOM, Skerries, Black Hills Category 3 KOM, Skerries.
For further details contact: Dermot Dignam 01-8481517 or Sally Ryan 01- 6496400
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