Rás 2012

fat bloke

Just checking out stickybottle.com - great name and a great site I must say.

Anyway, they've a breakdown of the stages of the upcoming rás and it sounds fantastic. I'd love to follow it some year, like you would the tour de france, but without all the ferry hassle and expense!

The 5th stage talks about "Mamore Gap" regarded as the single toughest ascent in Ireland" !! I can't find it on google maps or ridewithgps. Anyone climbed it? - What are the numbers? How long / hard / steep is it??

I've a longing to head to the Alps with my bike whenever I get a chance, but perhaps I should pay more attention to the roads closer to home! Certainly my Meath and Kildare exploits of late have led me to wonder why one would search an farther afield for nice smooth clean scenic tarmac!



From stickybottle:

"This is in complete contrast to day four; with the route from Bundoran to Buncrana much more difficult. It includes no less than seven climbs including Mamore Gap, which is regarded by many as the single toughest ascent in Ireland. This stage will play to the mountain specialists the same way that the previous stage facilitated the sprinters.

The early ascents are appetizers for what is to follow, with Barnesmore Gap (km 41), Maghera Beg (78.8km), Slavary (111.5km) and Old Mountain (117km) all being third category climbs. They are split by the Post Office sprint in Burt, which will further liven things up. However things really start to get going after approximately three hours of racing, when the peloton battles it out on the category two Pinch Mountain (120.7km).

The backbreaker comes soon afterwards when the contenders slug it out on the legendary Mamore Gap.

Topping out twelve kilometres from the finish, it is ferociously steep and has always shattered the field in the past. Current world time trial champion Tony Martin seized yellow in the 2007 race when he rode well over the climb, and defended that lead until the end of the race.

“The stage is only 149 kilometres, but it’s the day the real agony starts,” states Dignam. “Within 40 kilometres there is the Barnesmore Gap…it is a main road climb, but is still enough to pile the pressure on the field. A couple of strong riders on the front could definitely start burning others off. Other climbs then follow, including the first ascent of Old Mountain, which is short and steep.”

“Pinch Mountain is bordering on a Cat 1 – it is a hard climb. After that the riders will head to Clonmany, then up Mamore Gap. It certainly has to be one of the steepest climbs in the county, and will be utterly decisive. Once past the top, there’s one last test; the race will go up the other side of Old Mountain, a short and steep climb. The guys who survive after Mamore but don’t have anything left will really suffer there. This is going to be one of the most important stages. The bunch will be blown apart."