An Post Ras 2016

ednwireland

route announced
http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/IrishCyclingRas/Route/

well thats rubbish

Jim Stynes

Does it ever go up north?

Diarmuid

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Does it ever go up north?

2012

Beasty

Starting at Dublin Castle - hopefully a few more will be there to see them off

Finishing in ....

.... Skerries - guess it's going to be hi-viz and red flag for me again

Hmmzis

Crosswinds, headwinds, truckloads of climbing - looks fun.

RobFowl

Great looking route

harringtonp

Martyn Irvine and Eddie Dunbar were interviewed by Matt Cooper about an hour ago. Missed the start of it but they were talking about the RAS a bit so guess it was intended to coincide with the route announcement.

Thankfully Matt asked good questions and certainly gives the impression he knows something about cycling.

Eamonnator

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Does it ever go up north?

In 1956 it did, caused a few problems:

http://www.rastailteann.com/event/printer_476.shtml

Jim Stynes

Eamonnator wrote: »

In 1956 it did, caused a few problems:

http://www.rastailteann.com/event/printer_476.shtml

I live near lurgan too ffs :mad:
Shame they don't go around the 6 counties as there are some great climbs and routes to use.

wav1

I'm going anyway.Preparation going very well.

Beasty

wav1 wrote: »

I'm going anyway.Preparation going very well.

Which team are you riding for wav?

wav1

Jim Stynes wrote: »

I live near lurgan too ffs :mad:
Shame they don't go around the 6 counties as there are some great climbs and routes to use.

In 2007 we had stage ends in Derry and Newcastle [Down]

wav1

Beasty wrote: »

Which team are you riding for w

Ream Yellow Arrows.very prestigious outfit.

Beasty

I suspect there is little appetite to deal with both the PSNI and AGS simultaneously given recent problems with racing in both jurisdictions.

killalanerr

Beasty wrote: »

I suspect there is little appetite to deal with both the PSNI and AGS simultaneously given recent problems with racing in both jurisdictions.

Bit of a sweeping statement that , ever much depends where your talking about .
Good route night stages should be good

buffalo

harringtonp wrote: »

Martyn Irvine and Eddie Dunbar were interviewed by Matt Cooper about an hour ago. Missed the start of it but they were talking about the RAS a bit so guess it was intended to coincide with the route announcement.

Thankfully Matt asked good questions and certainly gives the impression he knows something about cycling.

Irvine says he'll come out of retirement for one last job...

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/irvine-open-to-offers-for-onceoff-rs-comeback-for-the-ras-34463689.html

laraghrider

harringtonp wrote: »

Thankfully Matt asked good questions and certainly gives the impression he knows something about cycling.

I work with Today FM a bit and as a result have met and chatted with Matt on quite a few occasions. He's actually a very keen cyclist and is quite into it as a sport.

1bryan

DUBLIN CASTLE STAGE START,
Clonee (race start, end of neutralised zone), Dunshaughlin, Navan, Bohermeen An Post Hot Spot Sprint (km 38.5), Kells An Post Hot Spot Sprint (km 50.4), Carnaross, Whitegate, Maghera, Virginia, KOM Category 3 at Lough Crew (km 86.7), Castlepollard, Crookedwood, Multyfarnham An Post Hot Spot Sprint (km 125.3), Crookedwood,
MULTYFARNHAM FINISH

Dublin castle, start. Clonee, end of neutralised zone?

Whats that? about 10 miles? Longer than your average neutralised zone, no?

RobFowl

1bryan wrote: »

Dublin castle, start. Clonee, end of neutralised zone?

Whats that? about 10 miles? Longer than your average neutralised zone, no?

Quite long but going through town so understandable.
1916 an important commemoration for the Ras given its history.

1bryan

RobFowl wrote: »

Quite long but going through town so understandable.
1916 an important commemoration for the Ras given its history.

yeah, fair enough. I can't imagine the riders will enjoy it too much though. It'll prolong the anxiety they'll feel at the start of the race.

I wonder if thats the end of Dunboyne starts. I enjoyed heading out the last few years. They did a great job of it, but I'd imagine its a lot of hassle too though.

RobFowl

1bryan wrote: »

yeah, fair enough. I can't imagine the riders will enjoy it too much though. It'll prolong the anxiety they'll feel at the start of the race.

I wonder if thats the end of Dunboyne starts. I enjoyed heading out the last few years. They did a great job of it, but I'd imagine its a lot of hassle too though.

I think a start at a key point in the history of 1916 was important this year.
Google Joe Crystal and the ethos behind the Ras in its early years....

Bikengolfer

1bryan wrote: »

Dublin castle, start. Clonee, end of neutralised zone?

Whats that? about 10 miles? Longer than your average neutralised zone, no?

RAS is no stranger to this neutralised section when sign in and HQ was from Island bridge to start line outside the GPO then neutralised to outside the city.

The Flying Vet

I'm not sure the county riders will be over the moon with the route. A lot of climbing in it compared to last year and I can see the time limit on tough stages causing eliminations. I was disappointed with the route last year due to the lack of climbs but in hindsight the racing was really good and attacking with the county men really getting involved. They will be real 'men of the ras' to get through this one.

Kaisr Sose

Bikengolfer wrote: »

RAS is no stranger to this neutralised section when sign in and HQ was from Island bridge to start line outside the GPO then neutralised to outside the city.

Rode it a few times and that was always the way it was! Long neutralised is not all bad. Nice way to relax into it if you take it that way. I was actually at the launch and Matt was looking uber cool with the gelled hair. Bryan McCrystal was good. When pushed on when he would make a move or which stage was for him, he reckoned stage two was the one for him to have a go, but wished it was later in the week when GC possibly sorted and guys less fresh! But keep it quiet! (I can see the clamber for his wheel forming from the start of the stage!)

It was good to see past greats. Gene Mangan, Shay O Hanlon, Paudi Fitzgeald & Brian Connaughton were presented as legends of the Rás and got a Cu Chullain statue.

Eddie Dunbar gave a brief intro into season plans etc. He thinks he may be doing the Tour of California but if not , would love to be riding!! (Probably unlikely) All in all, everyone happy with the route. Now that 'they have built it' — who will come? ����