Poll - the level of the Rás

fixie fox

Ok, Rás time is coming around fast so I thought it would be interesting to poll your view on what level the Rás should be at.

It's tricky enough to word the questions. Basically, its about the Irish amateur - whether he should be able to realistically aspire to a result, or whether it should remain at its UCI level where realistically only professionals get results, bar the odd 'full-time amateur' .

Please keep in mind the by 'amateur' I mean the guy who has to work (a little bit at least!) - the elite club guys that we ride with every Sunday and not the guys who can afford to ride and recover full time.

The questions are a bit simplistic, even though it's a complicated question.

maloner

What do mean by result? Getting a top ten, or beating the time limit?

Brian?

The introduction of a 2 tiered time limit would be a step in the right direction. Eliminating half the amateur riders
In one day doesn't make sense.

Not sure it'll happen though.

i_surge

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/i-was-never-afraid-to-lose-if-id-nothing-left-at-the-end-of-a-race-then-id-nothing-left-bottom-line/

buffalo

fixie fox wrote: »

Please keep in mind the by 'amateur' I mean the guy who has to work (a little bit at least!) - the elite club guys that we ride with every Sunday and not the guys who can afford to ride and recover full time.

What about people like Aiken or Shaw? They're 'amateurs', but well able to challenge for a result. So at its current level, the elite Irish amateur club rider already has a realistic chance of a result.

RayCun

maloner wrote: »

What do mean by result? Getting a top ten, or beating the time limit?

How would you change the level? No international athletes? Looser time limits? Shorter sections?

Diarmuid

I'd like a week long stage race in Ireland around June where you could race against the best domestic riders in Ireland. Getting a kicking from the next Tony Martin is less appealing.

Beasty

I think that Ireland can only sustain one event of this nature/stature and believe they've got the balance just about right. Everyone now looks forward to this race, it gets some decent publicity and the County riders can at least have ambitions of completing it, and maybe even getting away for a stage victory.

Yes it would be great if we could have a variety of longer stage races, but I just do not believe the money is there to support it. I also think the Ras has grown in stature to fill the void a little since the demise of the Tour of Ireland

12 sprocket

Diarmuid wrote: »

I'd like a week long stage race in Ireland around June where you could race against the best domestic riders in Ireland. Getting a kicking from the next Tony Martin is less appealing.

The next Tony Martin or two might be in in the race you wish for, and might be Irish!

L'Enfer du Nord

Interesting account in this podcast of the rivalry/conflict between an Elite italian team including Vladimer Belli and Giesepi Guerini and the Irish riders in the 1992 race.

Beasty

L'Enfer du Nord wrote: »

Interesting account in this podcast of the rivalry/conflict between an Elite italian team including Vladimer Belli and Giesepi Guerini and the Irish riders in the 1992 race.

Ah memories ...

...Episode 30 "Anto's on the 'phone":D

Actually could have written that line myself a month or two before that!

RobFowl

12 sprocket wrote: »

The next Tony Martin or two might be in in the race you wish for, and might be Irish!

Sam Bennett, Ciaran Power are just 2 to have been helped by the RAS. As 12 Sprocket says there are many more of them out there.
We are just as good if not better than any other cycling nation and the RAS gives us a level of competition which is just perfect IMO.