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60th. Edition Of The An Post Rás Sets Demanding Challenge Ror Riders “Tactically Difficult” route takes a North West direction for 2012 GPO, Dublin, 26thJanuary: The 2012 An Post Rás route, the sixtieth anniversary of the race, was announced this morning at the GPO. Laying out a battleground that features 28 categorised climbs, including three of the hardest and best-known ascents in the country, the race looks certain to provide riders with a challenging eight days of racing. A number of ‘Rás legends’ including ‘Iron Man’ Mick Murphy, four times winner Sé O’Hanlon and the first ever winner of the race, Colm Christle, joined rising Irish star Sam Bennett at the GPO today to celebrate the launch of the 60th edition of the Rás. Rás organiser Dermot Dignam believes the 2012 An Post Rás is going to be one of the toughest in years. “It is going to be the most challenging course in recent memory,” said Dignam “This is Stephen’s (cyclist Stephen O’Sullivan) second year to design the route and he has really planned a very hard eight days of racing” “There are a huge number of difficult ascents littered throughout the route, and overall it is probably leaning more towards the climber than the all-rounder. There is something tough in store every single day, so there’s no doubt it will be a very exciting race” Dignam added. Passing through a total of fourteen counties and totalling 1168 kilometres over the eight days, the race will again get underway in Dunboyne, Co. Meath (home club of O’Sullivan) on Sunday May 20th. It follows a roughly clockwise direction, heading north west this year, instead of south west, with stage finishes in Kilkenny, Gort, Westport, Bundoran, Buncrana, Killybegs, Cootehill and Skerries. Dignam expects that as usual, the race will attract strong international professional and national teams from Europe and further afield. An Post first became the sponsor of Ireland’s most gruelling cycling race last year, and after a hugely successful contest An Post Chief Executive Donal Connell is looking forward to creating an even bigger spectacle this year. “2012 marks an incredible sixty years of racing under the banner of the Rás Tailteann. An Post is once again supporting this special event, in what is a landmark anniversary year for the race.” “Among Irish people there is a strong tradition and heritage attached to the An Post Rás. This year the support and interest from towns along the route has again been huge, no doubt due both to the success of last year’s event and the very real value of a spectacle of this size coming to town.” “The An Post Rás is quite literally putting the towns of villages of Ireland on the map – with a valuable spin off for the local economy. Many of the stage end towns are now running their own cycling festivals in tandem with the race and a number of charities are benefiting from parallel events.” “As part of our community sponsorship this event allows us to support volunteerism, sporting excellence and local business all over the country. We are looking forward to a truly memorable 60th edition of the race” he added. Details of the international teams set to join this year’s An Post Rás will be released over the coming months. The An Post Sean Kelly team, with whom the defending champion Gediminas Bagdonas rides, is already committed to participating. EDITOR NOTES 2012 An Post Route Stage 1, Sunday May 20th: Dunboyne – Kilkenny, 147kms Stage 2, Monday May 21st: Kilkenny – Gort, 158kms Stage 3, Tuesday May 22nd: Gort – Westport, 145kms Stage 4, Wednesday May 23rd: Westport – Bundoran, 135kms Stage 5, Thursday May 24th: Bundoran – Buncrana, 149kms Stage 6, Friday May 25th: Buncrana – Killybegs, 134kms Stage 7, Saturday May 26th: Donegal - Cootehill, 161kms Stage 8, Sunday May 27th: Cootehill – Skerries, 139kms AN POST Rás 2012 STAGE 1, SUNDAY 20th. MAY, DUNBOYNE – KILKENNY 147 KMS. Dunboyne, Garadice, Kilcock, Beltreacy Cross, Painestown Cross, Prosperous, Kilmeague, Allen, Hill Of Allen Hot Spot Prime, Miltown, Kildare, Nurney, Kilmead, Athy, Ballylynan Hot Spot Sprint, Farnons Category 3 KOM & Hot Spot Prime, Newtown, Crettyard, Castlecomer, Glenmagoo Category 2 KOM, Ballyragget, Dunmore, Finish Patrick Street, Kilkenny. Stage 1: The An Post Rás 2012 looks set for a nervous start, with the 147 kilometre opening stage from Dunboyne to Kilkenny featuring two hot spot and one Post Office sprints. There are also two climbs, including a category two ascent of Glenmagoo which comes just 27 kilometres from the finish in historic Kilkenny. STAGE 2, MONDAY 21st. MAY, KIKLENNY – GORT 158 KMS. Kilkenny, Freshford Post Office Prime, Urlingford Post Office Prime Two Mile Borris, Thurles, Ballycahill, Milestone, Coonmore Category 3 KOM, Rear Cross, Newport, Birdhill, Ballina, Killaloe, Ogonnellle Category 3 KOM, Tuamgraney, Scarriff, Lecarrow Category 3 KOM, Aylebaun Category 3 KOM, Killanena Category 3 KOM, Finish Bridge Street, Gort. Stage 2: Day two to Gort features two Post Office sprints and no less than five category three climbs over 158 kilometres; Rás organiser Dermot Dignam states that more ramps are included than the latter figure suggests, and that the constantly-undulating course could have been given more classified climbs again. STAGE 3, TUESDAY 22nd MAY GORT – WESTPORT 145 KMS. Gort, Ardrahan, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge, On N6 West, Galway By-Pass Road, On N59 Moycullen Post Office Prime. Roscahill , Oughterard, Maam Cross,Tir Na Cille Category 3 KOM, An Mám Gowlaun Category 2 KOM, Maumtrasna Category 1 KOM, Tourmakedy, Killavally, Finish Mill Street, Westport. Stage 3: The following day covers more hard, dragging roads on the 145 kilometres to Westport. There are three climbs including the second category Gowlaun and the long, steep category one ascent of Maumtransa, the slopes of which are certain to blow the bunch apart and lead to a lot of hard racing after the summit. STAGE 4, WEDNESDAY 23rd MAY, WESTPORT – BUNDORAN 135 KMS. Westport, Castlebar, Ballyavary, Charlestown, Curry, Tubbercurry, Ballinacarrow, Sligo, Rathcormack Drumcliff, Grange, Cliffony, Bundoran Stage 4: Day four is one for the sprinters, who can look forward to 135 flat, fast kilometres from Westport to Bundoran and a likely big bunch finish with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop. STAGE 5, THURSDAY 24TH MAY, BUNDORAN – BUNCRANA 149KMS. Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Barnesmore Gap Category 3 KOM. Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Drumkeen. Maghera Beg Category 2 KOM, Burt Post Office Prime, Burnfoot, Fahan, Buncrana, Slavary Category 3 KOM, Old Mountain Category 3 KOM, Pinch Mountain Category 2 KOM, Clonmany, Mamore Gap Category 1 KOM, Old Mountain Category 3 KOM, Buncrana. Stage 5: The climbers will come to the fore the following day with the 149 kilometre run to Buncrana being a very tough day in the saddle. It includes five category three climbs, plus the category two Pinch Mountain and the legendary, gruelling ascent of Mamore Gap, arguably the toughest climb in the country. STAGE 6, FRIDAY 25TH MAY, BUNCRANA – KILLYBEGS, 134KMS. Buncrana, Fahan, Tooban, Burnfoot, Bridgend, Letterkenny, Meenirroy Category 2 KOM, Fintown, Glenties, Ardara, Glengesh Pass Category 1 KOM, Meenaneary, Carrick, Bogagh Category 2 KOM, Kilcar, Bavin Category 2 KOM, Finish Shore Road, Killybegs. Stage 6: The following day includes another classic ascent, with the relatively short 135 kilometre leg to Killybegs taking in three category two climbs plus the first category Glengesh Pass, a spectacular mountain featuring steep hairpin bends and having the potential to shatter the peloton. STAGE 7, SATURDAY 26TH MAY, DONEGAL – COOTEHILL, 161KMS, Donegal, Bundoran, Kinlough, Rossinver, Kiltyclogher, Glenfarne Post Office Prime, Dowra, Bellavalley Category 2 KOM, Black Rocks Cross, Bawnboy, Ballyconnell, Belturbet, Redhills, Scotshouse, Kavanaghs Hill Category 3 KOM, Newbliss, Finish Main Street, Cootehill Stage 7: Stage seven from Donegal to Cootehill is a little more humane with the category two climb of Bellavalley and the category three ascent of Kavanagh’s Hill being the only ramps to contend with, but it will be the longest at 161 kilometres. It also makes demands on concentration and bunch positioning due to some very narrow roads.
STAGE 8, SUNDAY 27TH MAY, COOTEHILL – SKERRIES, 140KMS Cootehill, Shercock, Kingscourt, Nobber Post Office Prime, Wilkinstown, Gormanlough, Slane Category 3 KOM, Balrath Cross, Kilmoon Cross, 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, Finish Strand Street, Skerries
Stage 8: The final battles will then be raged on the 139 kilometre race from Cootehill on Sunday May 27th, with five category three climbs awaiting the riders, including two ascents of the Black Hills on the familiar finishing circuit in Skerries. Once again a huge crowd is anticipated at the seaside town, bringing eight tough days in the saddle to a stirring, atmospheric end.
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