Rás Route

Always my aspiration, the route for this years Rás has been announced today. Looks tough enough. But then I'm told every Rás is tough. This Shane Stokes account/synopsis of how it will go.

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SESKIN HILL FINISH HIGHLIGHT OF TOUGH FBD MILK RÁS ROUTE: (By Shane Stokes Feb 3) Unveiling a tough, testing route today that should result in some truly spectacular racing, FBD Milk Rás race director Dermot Dignam has included the first big mountain-top finish since the ascent of Wicklow Gap in 1983. The legendary Seskin Hill on the outskirts of Carrick on Suir will be the battleground at the end of the sixth stage of this year’s race, a difficult legbreaker of a climb which for years served as a training ground for Sean Kelly and which became known worldwide due to its use in the Nissan Classic. Coming towards the end of a difficult week, and serving as the finale of a 151 kilometre stage from Millstreet in Cork, the gruelling slopes will provide a perfect launching pad for those aiming to take, or keep, the yellow jersey of race leadership.

It’s been a long time since we had a mountain top finish’, Dignam said today. ‘Each year we try to do different things with the route, and what better place for a stage end than at the top of Seskin Hill? It is very well known in Irish cycling and with the top just one mile from Carrick on Suir, should generate huge crowds and a really great atmosphere.’

The 2004 FBD Milk Rás follows a tried and tested format in parts, but Dignam’s inclusion of a summit finish at Seskin Hill makes for a spectacular race. Tough category one climbs form part of the route each year but it is 21 years since the Rás had such a tough finish. Factor in the passionate crowds which can be expected in Sean Kelly country and, it seems, a cracker of an contest is in store.

The one thousand-kilometre FBD Milk Rás will begin on May 23rd when a large multinational field of professionals and amateurs gather in Dublin for the now-customary start there. Several hot-spot sprints and King of the Mountains climbs punctuate the 132 kilometre route towards Trim, with the points won at Stamullen, Greenanstown, Slane, Glassallen and Collen counting towards the sprints and mountains classifications. As per usual, a constant stream of attacks can be expected throughout the stage before the final sprint on Emmett street in Trim.

Day two takes the riders on a twisting route from Trim to Oranmore, 167 kilometres passing through towns and villages such as Ballivor, Mullingar, Athlone and Ballinasloe. The stage has no major climbs but winding, undulating roads plus the small time gaps expected in the general classification will promote aggressive racing from the drop of the flag.

The follow day’s leg to Charleville takes the riders on a 152 kilometre stage through Ballina and Newport and sees the return of the KOM sprints. Points are up for grabs at the third category climbs of Killanena, Aylevaun and Ogonelle, but according to the race organisers, a bunch sprint is the most likely outcome at the finish in Charleville.

Day four to Cahirciveen is where the big time gaps are most likely to start to appear. This is both the longest and one of the most difficult stages in the race, with a total of nine categorised climbs rearing up along the 181 kilometre route. The tiring riders will encounter third category slopes at Glenduff Hill, Glenquin, Glenshearoon, Seefin, Drum West and Mount Foley, while towards the end of the stage the second cat Raheen and Cill Urlait ascents plus the first category Coonanaspig set the scene for a rip-roaring battle between the emerging favourites.

Just three climbs feature on stage five, but the first category ascents of Coomakista and Inchee Mountain may well shatter the main field and see many riders come in a long way down. The first of these two climbs comes shortly after the start of the 152 kilometre stage; the danger is that many of the weaker riders could lose contact, beginning what would be long, lonely day in the saddle. The two early climbs plus the third category County Bounds ascent should however provide ample opportunity for the contenders to try to take time from the yellow jersey before the stage finish in Millstreet.

Day six seems destined to go down in Rás legend, as it has been 21 long years since the race last featured a summit finish. The 151 kilometre stage to Carrick-on-Suir has just two climbs, one of which is the third category Pike, but the gruelling uphill slog to the finish line at the top of Seskin Hill is guaranteed to blow the race apart. The former world number one Sean Kelly built his strength on this cruel slope; it will take another strong, determined rider to come away with the honours at the end of this prestigious stage.

The penultimate leg of the race provides further opportunity for those looking to steal yellow, with 149 kilometres and nine climbs separating start and finish. The day’s slopes include the category one ascents of The Heights, Corrabutt Gap and Mount Leinster, with plenty of fireworks guaranteed before the fragmented field descends down towards the stage end in Tullow. There remains but the final day, an hour long criterium in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, so unless the time gaps are uncharacteristically miniscule, the mountainous run from Carrick to Tullow will provide the final real shakeup in what should be a dramatic, distinctive edition of the FBD Milk Rás.



Route in detail:

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Stage 1, Sunday 23rd May, Dublin – Trim, 132 Kms.
Dublin, Balbriggan, Gormanston, Stamullen Hot Spot Sprint, Greenanstown Category 3 KOM, Duleek, Drogheda, Donore, Slane Category 3 KOM & Hot Spot Sprint, Glassallen Category 3 KOM, Collen Category 3 KOM & Hot Spot Sprint, Ardee, Wilkinstown, Navan, Trim.
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Stage 2, Monday 24th May, Trim – Oranmore, 167 Kms.
Trim, Boardsmill, Ballivor, Raharney, Killucan, The Downs, Mullingar, Ballymore, Athlone, Ballinasloe, New Inn, Athenry, Oranmore.
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Stage 3, Tuesday, 25th May, Oranmore – Charleville, 152 Kms.
Oranmore, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Gort, Drumindoora, Killenena Category 3 KOM, Aylevaun Category 3 KOM, Scariff, Tuamgraney, Ogonelle Category 3 KOM, Killaloe, Ballina, Birdhill, Newport, Boher, Caherconlish, Ballyneety, Crecora, Croom, Banoge, Charleville.
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Stage 4, Wednesday 26th May, Charleville – Cahirciveen, 181 Kms.
Charleville, Newtownshandrum, Milford, Drumcolliher, Broadford, Glenduff Hill Category 3 KOM, Ashford, Glenquin Category 3 KOM, Abbeyfeale, Glenshearoon Category 3 KOM, Castleisland, Farranfore, Firies, Milltown, Killorglin, Seefin Category 3 KOM, Glenbeigh, Drum West Category 3 KOM, Mount Foley Category 3 KOM, Cahirciveen, Annagar Bridge, Raheen Category 2 KOM, Cill Urlait Category 2 KOM, Coonanaspig Category 1 KOM, Portmagee, Cahirciveen.
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Stage 5, Thursday 27th May, Cahirciveen – Millstreet, 152 Kms.
Cahirciveen, Waterville, Coomakista Category 1 KOM, Caherdaniel, Sneem, Kenmare, Kilgarvan, Inchee Mountain Category 1 KOM, Cuil Aodha, Baile Bhuirne, County Bounds Category 3 KOM, Glenfesk, Rathmore, Millstreet.
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Stage 6, Friday 28th May, Millstreet – Seskin Hill Carrick-on Suir, 151 Kms.
Millstreet, Mallow, Castletownroche, Ballyhooly, Fermoy, Ballyduff, Cappoquinn, The Pike Category 3 KOM, Lemybrien, Mahon Bridge, Carrick-on-Suir, Seskin Hill & Category 1 KOM.
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Stage 7, Saturday 29th May, Carrick-on-Suir – Tullow, 149 Kms.
Carrick-on-Suir, Cussan Category 2 KOM, Kilmaganny, Newmarket, Knocktopher, Thomastown, Coppenagh Gap Category 2 KOM, Graignamanagh, Ballymurphy, Kiltealy, Bolamor Category 3 KOM, Bunclody, Cranavane Category 3 KOM, Myshal, The Heights Category 1 KOM, Corrabutt Gap, Category 1 KOM, Mount Leinster Category 1 KOM, Kiltealy, Bolamor Category 3 KOM, Bunclody Category 3 KOM, Tullow.
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Stage 8, Sunday 30th May, Phoenix Park Circuit, 40 Kms.
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Maybe one day we'll have a Boards team in it