Women's Tour de France - and Rás Tailteann

Qualitymark

Is there a women's Tour de France? And whatever happened to an Rás Tailteann?

dougal01

An Ras Tailteann is very much alive and this year celebrated its 60th anniversary.Still as popular as ever with the riders its now ''An Post Ras''after trading as the FBD Insurance ras,the FBD MILK ras,the dairy ras tailteann,the tirolia ras tailteann.the health race,and the discover ireland ras tailteann over the past 40 or so years.Its just a very special event to be part of.

vicwatson

Qualitymark wrote: »

Is there a women's Tour de France? And whatever happened to an Rás Tailteann?

Yes there is, at least there used to be, a women's tdf. Run over 2 weeks if I remember correctly. shorter course

Edit - Seems as its had a turbulent time

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France_F%C3%A9minin

RobFowl

The Ras Tailteann coninues as the An Post Ras all right and is thriving.

The womens TDF has been on a downhill slope since the heyday of Jennie Longo and Naria Cannis in the 1980's when it was run in tandem with the mens race. The Grand Boucle was the most recent incarnation but was a seperate race and organisation to the mens version and is as of now defunct.
Hope to see it make a come back and wimens cycling is at a preety high point in terms of quality at least just now.

ednwireland

prob the biggest womens stage race these days

Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-internazionale-femminile-2012

Caroline_ie

The women's tour de france (or its successor) is on right now!
La route de France.

Siobhan Horgan is racing it.
http://women.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?editie_idd=MjI5NzE=

Qualitymark

Thanks!

Hm, they don't get that much coverage - shows that nothing exists (for muppet me anyway) if it's not in the media.

Caroline_ie

If you are interrested in women's racing abroad, you have to look hard for information. It won't be delivered to you unfortunately.

People involved in women's racing, whether they are the media, the organisers or the racers themselves are passionate and they don't do it for the money, because there is none.

Women road racing have it easier than women MTB too. It's almost as if it didn't exist.

The Rás na mBan is the next big event in Ireland for us. There will be coverage on this one you got my word.

RobFowl

Caroline_ie wrote: »

The Rás na mBan is the next big event in Ireland for us. There will be coverage on this one you got my word.

Will you be there?

Caroline_ie

RobFowl wrote: »

Will you be there?

Yes I will and I won't be racing it.

Chips Lovell

I'll be there too.