|
Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
AN POST RAS DETAILED STAGE BREAKDOWN
By Shane Stokes, for An Post Ras PR
26 Jan 2012,
|
Email this article
|
The An Post Ras route for 2012 was released today at the GPO in Dublin, giving a broad outline of what this year's race would involve.
A deeper analysis now follows, giving more specific detail of each stage and also reactions from the race director Dermot Dignam:
Stage 1, Sunday 20th May, Dunboyne – Kilkenny 147 kms
The first part of stage one of the race follows the traditional opening day pattern of the An Post Rás, with generally flat, fast roads and intermediate sprints moving things briskly along. The riders will leave Dunboyne and pass through Prosperous en route to the first hot spot sprint at the Hill of Allen (km 54.1), then continue on through Kildare and Athy to the Ballylynan Post Office Hot Spot Sprint (km 94.5). After that, though, the pattern is different to usual, with two climbs coming inside the final hour or so of racing.
The first is the category three Farnons Hill (km 102), while exactly twenty kilometres later the riders will cross the summit of the more difficult Glenmagoo, a second category 2 climb which also doubles as the day’s final hot spot sprint.
“It’s definitely it is a bit unusual to have a second category climb on the first day,” states race director Dermot Dignam. “It’s normally flatter than that. Glenmagoo is steady climb but also a tough one… That said, even though it is a second category, the fact that riders are fresh and motivated means that I’d expect that we will see a big bunch sprint into Kilkenny.
“It’s possible that a few riders will get clear going up Glenmagoo. The descent is fast and straightforward, though, and they are liable to be brought back. Once into Kilkenny, the finish is very technical. The riders will be faced with all sorts of tight corners and skill will be important for whoever is trying to win the stage. It should be a great finish.”
Stage 2, Monday 21st May, Kilkenny – Gort 158 kms
Day two offers plenty of opportunity for strong riders to cause havoc, with many possibilities for attacks to come. The pattern for a tough day in the saddle is set early on, with Post Office sprints at Freshford (km 10.5) and Urlingford (km 15.5) coming less than half an hour after the bunch departs Kilkenny. After passing through Two Mile Borris and Thurles, the first of five category three climbs comes at Coonmore (km 75) and, after Newport, Ballina and Killaloe, is followed by others at Ogonnelloe (km 114), Lecarrow (km 131.5), Aylebaun (km 134.5) and Killanena (km 142). The latter is sixteen kilometres from the finish, and could be the final launch pad for a stage-winning surge into Gort.
“This is a very tough stage,” said Dignam. “After just ten kilometres of racing, the riders will be sprinting for the first Post Office prime. From then on, right across into Thurles and after that to Birdhill, it is very undulating. In fact, we could have listed more King of the Mountains climbs but it was very hard to pinpoint climbing and dropping; the road is up and down the whole way, with a lot of pulling and dragging.
“There’s 158 tough kilometres of racing and I really expect there to be several separate groups finishing into Gort.”
Stage 3, Tuesday 22nd May, Gort – Westport 145 kms
Another day of hard, dragging roads, this is a stage where the bunch unity could well be shaken up and the general classification reshuffled. The riders will race out of Gort with 145 kilometres ahead of them, passing through Galway en route to the Post Office Sprint at Moycullen (km 48.3), then through Oughterard to the category three climb of Tir na Cille (km 83).
Things become markedly more difficult after that part, with the category two ramp of Gowlaun (km 95.2) being followed just nine kilometres later by the summit of the first category Maumtrasna. That double whammy will fracture the peloton and although 41 kilometres will remain from the top to the stage end in Westport, it’s likely that the gaps which open will be too big to come back together.
“The racing is going to be on from the time we leave Gort right up along the main road and in through Galway city,” said Dignam. “After the first prime at Moycullen, the roads are heavy though Maam Cross and on to the climbs…that surface will make them feel even harder than normal.
“Gowlaun is steep, and then there is a very difficult descent after that. The race will continue along very, very narrow roads in the glen, then after that there is a hard climb up Maumtrasna. It’s difficulty is the combination of steepness and length, and also because the approach to it is very much up and down, climbing all the time. That’ll wear the riders out, then at 102 kilometre it really gets steep for the last two kilometres.
“There’s a great road from there on to the finish in Westport. But even with riders chasing hard, I can see a number of different groups finishing that day, with things well broken up. I expect that there will be a front group chased by two or three others, then what’s left of the bunch.”
Stage 4, Wednesday 23rd May, Westport – Bundoran 135 kms
After three days where the pressure has been on the riders, there is a slight respite on day four from Westport. The 135 kilometre dash is flat and fast, moving through Castlebar, Tobercurry, Sligo, Drumcliff and on to the finish in Bundoran. Devoid of intermediate sprints and climbs, the stage is relatively a straightforward one, and should see a big gallop to the line.
“This is a real sprinters day. It is 135 kilometres of flat roads through Charlestown and Sligo, and promises to be a great finish into Bundoran,” said Dignam. “The final run-in is straight and fast, with a slight rise to the line coming in the last four to five hundred metres. The stage ends on the bridge in Bundoran, with the beautiful backdrop of the Atlantic ocean behind.”
Stage 5, Thursday 24th May, Bundoran – Buncrana 149 kms
The following day is in complete contrast to day four, with stage five from Bundoran to Buncrana being altogether more difficult. It includes no less than seven climbs, include one which is regarded by many as the single toughest ascent in Ireland, and 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 (km 78.8), Slavary (km 111.5) and Old Mountain (km 117) 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 (km 120.7).
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 riders who are aiming to take the yellow jersey to the finish in Skerries must perform well on the Mamore Gap, and also maintain their positions on the final ascent of the day, Old Mountain.
“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, and the day will certainly play a huge part in the eventual outcome.”
Stage 6, Friday 25th May, Buncrana – Killybegs 134 kms
Fatigued legs will have little chance to recover, as the race to Killybegs is another daunting one. As was the case on stage five, there’s a category one climb to battle with, while the riders will also scrap it out on three category two ascents.
The 134 kilometre stage starts out in a humane way, with more than an hour of flat racing coming before the category two climb of Meenirroy. This rears up after the peloton passes through Letterkenny, the hometown of Irish pro and 2009 Vuelta a España stage winner Philip Deignan, and tops out 59.4 kilometres after the start in Buncrana.
The riders will continue on through Genties and Ardara then, one day after Mamore, hit another ferociously steep Donegal climb in the shape of the Glengesh Pass (km 102.4). Sixteen kilometres later they will crest the summit of the second category Bogagh. This is followed six kilometres later by the second category climb of Bavin, with just ten flat-out kilometres coming between there and the finish.
Unsurprisingly, Dignam is convinced that the day will be one of the key points of the race. “This stage is extremely tough,” he said. “The Meenirroy climb is a hard one, and Glengesh is spectacular. It goes right up the valley to the top of the pass, a real alpine-style climb complete with hairpin bends.
“Riders won’t have to look over their shoulders to see the chasers; they’ll be able to look to their side on the hairpin bends to see them. It is an extremely hard climb, and even more so as the riders will have Mamore in their legs from the day before. It’s very unusual that both of these extremely tough climbs are included in the same edition of the race; we are able to do it this year as we are spending three days up in Donegal.
“Once over the top, Bogagh and Bavin await and both are also extremely hard climbs. The bunch really will be all over the place when we get to the finish in Killybegs.”
Stage 7, Saturday 26th May, Donegal – Cootehill 161 kms
The penultimate day of the race is the longest at 161 kilometres but, fortunately for the riders, it is also considerably flatter than the previous two days. However it has different demands, with the technical course requiring that riders really maintain their concentration.
It begins in Donegal town, then heads back through Bundoran en route to the Glenfarne Post Office Sprint (km 59.3). The second category Bellavalley category two climb rears up 92.3 kilometres after the start, then after passing through Bawnboy, Ballyconnell, Belturbet, and Scotshouse, the field will scale the category three Kavanaghs Hill prior to covering the final seventeen kilometres to the line in Cootehill.
“It’s going to be a tough stage because of the route,” said Dignam. “Almost from the time we leave Bundoran, we are on extremely narrow roads. For riders to hold their position, they will have to be up the front for much of the stage, really watching out.
“We have climbed Bellavalley a lot before, although usually from the other side. It is the climb where the Spanish riders crashed a couple of years ago. It is a hard climb and worth of the category two classification.
“After that, the race passes through areas we haven’t used before prior to hitting Kavanaghs Hill, which is quite tough. The finish is quite tricky – there is a wide street in Cootehill, but there is a sharp left turn 225 metres from the finish line. Anyone who hopes to win the stage has to be in the right position there.”
Stage 8, Sunday 27th May, Cootehill – Skerries 139 kms
The race concludes with the now-traditional final stage to Skerries, a finish town which has had superb crowds on each occasion the race has finished there. The second half of the route will be known to the riders who have ridden the race recently, containing four familiar category three climbs. Prior to that, it begins in Cootehill and passes through Nobber, the location of a post office sprint 38.6 kilometres after the drop of the flag.
Approximately 45 kilometres later, the riders will scale category three climb of Pluckhimin, move on through the Naul and Balrothery to the Cross of the Cage, (km 103.3), then race across the finish line for the first time, thus starting two complete laps of the finishing circuit.
Once on those 13.8 kilometre loops, the Black Hills will be covered twice (kms 116.5 and 130.3) prior to the final sprint into Skerries, where the sixtieth edition of the An Post Rás will conclude.
“The final stage will be a difficult one,” said Dignam, “because once we leave Cootehill, the speed will be on. There is a hard climb up from Slane, then we’ll move onto the familiar climbs of Pluckhimin, the Cross of the Cage, then two laps of the Black Hills. Hopefully there’ll be another tremendous reception in Skerries; the Swords cycling club, the Skerries Community Association, the Chamber of Commerce and others put in a lot of hard work each year, and it’s proved to be a wonderful finish to the race.”
-----
AN POST RÁS 2012:
STAGE 1, SUNDAY 20TH MAY, DUNBOYNE – KILKENNY 147 KMS.
DUNBOYNE, (Kilcock), Prosperous, Hill of Allen Hot Spot Sprint, Milltown, Kildare, Nurney, Athy, Ballylynan Post Office Hot Spot Sprint, Farnons Hill Category 3 KOM, Castlecomer, Glenmagoo Category 2 KOM & Hot Spot Sprint, Dunmore, KILKENNY.
STAGE 2, MONDAY 21st MAY, KILKENNY – GORT 158 KMS.
KILKENNY, Freshford Post Office Sprint, Urlingford Post Office Sprint, Two Mile Borris, Thurles, Ballcahill, Coonmore Category 3 KOM, Rear Cross, Newport, Birdhill, Ballina, Killaloe, Ogonnelloe Category 3 KOM, Tuamgraney, Scariff, Lecarrow Category 3 KOM, Aylebaun Category 3 KOM, Killanena Category 3 KOM, GORT.
STAGE 3, TUESDAY 22nd MAY, GORT – WESTPORT 145 KMS.
GORT, Ardrahan, Galway, Moycullen Post Office Sprint, Roscahill, Oughterard, An Teach Deolta (Maam Cross), Tir na Cille Category 3 KOM, An Mám, Gowlaun Category 2 KOM, Finny, Maumtrasna Category 1 KOM, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh (Tourmakeady), WESTPORT.
STAGE 4, WEDNESDAY 23RD MAY, WESTPORT – BUNDORAN 135 KMS.
WESTPORT, Castlebar, Ballyvary, Charlestown, Tobercurry, Ballinacarrow, Sligo, Rathcormack, Drumcliff, Grange, Cliffony, BUNDORAN.
STAGE 5, THURSDAY 24TH MAY, BUNDORAN – BUNCRANA 149 KMS.
BUNDORAN, Ballyshannon, Barnesmore Gap Category 3 KOM, Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Drumkeen, Maghera Beg Category 3 KOM, Burt Post Office Sprint, Burnfoot, Buncrana, Slavery Category 3 KOM, Old Mountain Category 3 KOM, Pinch Mountain Category 2 KOM, Clonmany, Dunaff, Mamore Gap Category 1 KOM, Old Mountain Category 3 KOM, BUNCRANA.
STAGE 6, FRIDAY 25TH MAY, BUNCRANA – KILLYBEGS 134 KMS.
BUNCRANA, Burnfoot, Bridgend, Letterkenny, Meenirroy Category 2 KOM, Fintown, Glenties, Ardara, Glengesh Pass Category 1 KOM, Meananeary, Carrick, Bogagh Category 2 KOM, Kilcar, Bavin Category 2 KOM, KILLYBEGS.
STAGE 7, SATURDAY 26TH MAY, DONEGAL – COOTEHILL 161 KMS.
DONEGAL TOWN, Bundoran, Kinlough, Rossinver, Kilthyclogher, Glenfarne Post Office Sprint, Dowra, Bellavalley Category 2 KOM, Bawnboy, Ballyconnell, Belturbet, Redhills, Scotshouse, Kavanagks Hill Category 3 KOM, Newbliss, COOTEHILL.
STAGE 8, SUNDAY 27TH MAY, COOTEHILL – SKERRIES 139 KMS.
COOTEHILL, Shercock, Kingscourt, Nobber Post Office Sprint, Wilkinstown, Gormanlough, Slane Category 3 KOM, Balrath Cross, Kilmoon Cross, Pluckhimin Category 3 KOM, Garristown, Naul, Balrothery, Cross of the Cage Category 3 KOM, Skerries, Black Hills Category 3 KOM, Skerries, Black Hills Category 3 KOM, SKERRIES.
|
