2007

Exciting Route Unveiled For 2007 FBD Insurance Rás
Jan 30, 2007, 17:48

Race Organiser Dermot Dignam

Eight months after the closest race in the 54 year history of the event, the organisers of the FBD Insurance RÁS have released details of the route for this year’s race which certainly contains all the ingredients necessary for an equally thrilling finale to the 2007 edition. The event will take place from Sunday 20^th to Sunday 27^th May.

A first ever race start in the prosperous Kildare town of Naas, thrilling stage finishes in Templemore, Loughrea, Sligo, Dungloe, Buncrana, Derry, Newcastle and a grand finale in Skerries provides the landscape for almost 1200 kilometres of highly competitive racing. Add in twenty King of the Mountain climbs and a crushing 174 kilometres final stage and everything is in place for the expected field of 150 top professional and amateur riders to slug it out for another cliffhanger finish to the 8 day world-ranked FBD RÁS.

Double Rás winner 03 and 05 Chris Newton ReCycling.Co.Uk

“Once again this year, through the generous sponsorship of FBD Insurance, the Irish sporting public will have the opportunity of seeing the very best Irish cyclists doing battle over Irish roads with national and professional teams from many parts of the world,” said organiser Dermot Dignam this week.

“The racing will be tough, fast and highly competitive with severe KOM climbs on many of the stages. It’s a typical Tour de France-type route that demands the utmost effort from all the riders, and will ensure that only the best man will receive the accolade of 2007 FBD Insurance RÁS Champion at the finish in Skerries on Sunday 27th May.”

The 2006 edition was laden with suspense, so much so that that final outcome was only decided in the final two hundred metres of the race. British rider Kristian House finished on precisely the same time as former world under 23 time trial champion Danny Pate, but won out thanks to better stage placings.

Stephen O'Sullivan Myhome.ie and Raymond Clark Tipperary Dan Morrissey in last years event

It was a titanic struggle and one which was appreciated by spectators and media alike. “Last year’s result was incredibly exciting and was the perfect ending to the race,” said Dignam. “The ideal situation for any Tour is that the result is undecided right up until the final stage and that was certainly the case. It was definately one of the most competitive Rásanna ever held and we hope that this year’s route will ensure another great battle.”

FULL DETAILS

The 2007 FBD Insurance Rás begins on Sunday May 20^th with a 158 kilometre stage from Naas to Templemore. Passing through the spectacular Curragh and on into the Slievebloom mountains the race will feature hot-spot sprints in Newbridge, Portarlington and Mountmellick plus the second category climb of The Cut, before the riders thunder onto the 25.4 kilometre finishing circuit through Templemore, Bouladuff, Borrisoleighin and back to Templemore for what should be a thrilling sprint finish

Tommy Evans Ushier Irish Road Club

Stage two covers 147 kilometres from Templemore to a first-ever stage finish in the busy town of Loughrea and features the category two KOM climb of Curreeney Cross plus the third category ascents of Lecarrow and Killanena en route to the finish on Barrack Street.

Day three takes the riders a colossal 171 kilometres race from Loughrea to Sligo, hometown of Ireland’s 1998 world junior champion Mark Scanlon. After passing through towns such as Athenry and Tuam, the peloton will climb the third category KOM Clogher More before racing at full speed to the finale on Wine Street.

Another fast day is on store on Wednesday May 23^rd, with the stage to Dungloe being a mainly flat, with the exception of category 3 KOM at Mount Charles, tactically-crucial 138 kilometres. The big mountains then make their appearance on the gruelling 131 kilometre fifth stage to Buncrana, with four second and third category KOM ascents preceding the much-featured category one Gap of Mamore, perhaps the toughest climb in the country. Once to the summit the fragmented field will drop down to the start of the third category Old Mountain and then on to the finish, where a major shake-up in the overall standings is guaranteed.

Day six sees the FBD Insurance RÁS cross the border en route to what should be a thrilling stage finish in Derry City. Passing the historic Guildhall the riders will do a 10kms loop taking in Craigavon Bridge and Foyle Bridge before turning right after the Guildhall to Water Street, Foyle Street and a tight lefthand corner to a lung-bursting ascent of Shipquay Street. Although it is the shortest stage of the race at 96 kilometres, flat out, aggressive riding is guaranteed throughout.

The penultimate day takes the riders from the shore of Lough Swilly to the east coast for a first-ever finish in the beautiful seaside town of Newcastle in county Down. The 165kms stage includes category three KOM climbs of Glenshane Pass and the Devil’s Elbow and through the busy towns of Dungiven, Cookstown, Dungannon, Portadown, Banbridge and Castlewellan before the outcome is decided on Newcastle’s Main Street with majestic Slieve Donard providing a spectacular backdrop.

The big finale comes on Sunday May 27^th and covers 174 tough kilometres to another one of Ireland’s beautiful seaside towns, Skerries, in north county Dublin. As was the case last year, this is a full road stage rather than the traditional criterium and all the ingredients are there for another thrilling finish. The riders will cover a total of six category three KOM climbs, including two steep ascents of the Black Hills on each of the finishing circuit laps, before the final sprint of what promises to be a hard-fought and gripping 2007 FBD INSURANCE RÁS.

Stage 1 – Sunday, May 20: Naas – Templemore + 1 lap of circuit, 158 km

Stage 2 – Monday, May 21: Templemore - Loughrea, 147 km

Stage 3 – Tuesday, May 22: Loughrea - Sligo, 171 km

Stage 4 – Wednesday, May 23: Sligo - Dungloe, 138 km

Stage 5 – Thursday, May 24: Dungloe – Buncrana, 131 km

Stage 6 – Friday, May 25: Buncrana – Derry, including 10K loop, 96 km

Stage 7 – Saturday, May 26: Derry – Newcastle, 165 km

Stage 8 – Sunday, May 27: Newcastle - Skerries + 2 Laps of circuit, 174 km

For further details contact:

Dermot Dignam 01-8481517 or Sally Ryan 01- 6496400

or log-on to: www.fbdinsuranceras.com

FBD INSURANCE RÁS 2007 STAGE DETAILS

STAGE 1, SUNDAY 20^TH MAY NAAS – TEMPLEMORE 158 KMS.

NAAS, Newbridge Hot Spot Sprint, The Curragh, Kildare, Monasterevin, Portarlington Hot Spot Sprint, Mountmellick Hot Spot Sprint, Rosenallis, Clonaslee, The Cut Category 2 KOM, Mountrath, Borris-in-Ossory, Roscrea By-Pass, Templemore, Bouladuff, Borrisoleigh, TEMPLEMORE.

STAGE 2, MONDAY 21^ST MAY, TEMPLEMORE – LOUGHREA 147 KMS.

TEMPLEMORE, Thurles, R502, Ballycahill, Curreeney Cross Category 3 KOM, Dolla, Silvermines, Ballina, Killaloe, Tuamgraney, Scarriff, Lecarrow Category 3 KOM, Killanena Category 3 KOM, Gort, LOUGHREA.

STAGE 3, TUESDAY 22^nd MAY, LOUGHREA – SLIGO 171 KMS.

LOUGHREA, Kilconieran, Athenry, Tuam, Dunmore, Ballyhaunis, Charlestown, Tobercurry, Ballygawley, Ballintogher, Dromahair, Clogher More Category 3 KOM, SLIGO.

STAGE 4, WEDNESDAY 23^rd MAY, SLIGO – DUNGLOE 138 KMS.

SLIGO, Drumcliff, Grange, Cliffony, Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Donegal By-Pass, Mountcharles Category 3 KOM, Dunkineely, Bruckless, Ardara, Glenties, Maas, Leitir, Mhic an Bháird, DUNGLOE.

STAGE 5, THURSDAY 24^TH MAY, DUNGLOE – BUNCRANA 131 KMS.

DUNGLOE, Dubhcharaidh, Peirse Mor Category 3 KOM, Carabit Category 2 KOM, Fintown, Letterkenny, Burnfoot, Fahan, Buncrana, Slavery Category 3 KOM, Pinch Mountain Category 2 KOM, Clonmany, Mamore Gap Category 1 KOM, Old Mountain Category 3 KOM, BUNCRANA.

STAGE 6, FRIDAY 25^TH MAY, BUNCRANA – DERRY 96 KMS.

BUNCRANA, Clonmany, Ballyliffen, Carndonagh, Malin, Culdaff, Gleneely, Moville, Muff, DERRY

STAGE 7, SATURDAY 26^TH MAY, DERRY – NEWCASTLE 165 KMS.

DERRY, Dungiven, Glenshane Pass Category 3 KOM, Cookstown, Dungannon, Moy, Portadown, Gilford, Lawrencestown, Banbridge, Ballyward, Devils Elbow Category 3 KOM, Castlewellan, NEWCASTLE.

STAGE 8, SUNDAY 27^TH MAY, NEWCASTLE – SKERRIES 174 KMS.

NEWCASTLE, Castlewellan, Kilcoo, Hilltown, Lynch’s Hill Category 3 KOM, Mayobridge, Newry, Cloghoe Mountain Category 3 KOM, Dundalk, Ardee, Collen, Slane, Balrath, 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.