The peleton on the road to The Rower. Pic: Lorraine O’Sullivan
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This year’s race is the nineteenth edition of the popular international stage race to be based in and around Kilkenny. The 2025 edition features an all-new opening stage in a new finish location and the return of the double-helping of racing in Kilkenny on the final day.
Riders from all over Europe as well as the best of Ireland’s international and locally-based racers will descend on Kilkenny for the event as racing gets underway tomorrow, Wednesday September 3rd, from 15:00 at the Race HQ, the Hoban Hotel.
Once again, the route offers a variety of challenges, from testing hilly stages including the stage two climb of ‘The Cut’ in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Laois followed by the demanding Gorey stage in County Wexford on Friday, to the stage five time trial on Sunday where riders will ride solo against the watch on the new Kilkenny Castle course. We’re also excited to see how the new opening stage to Freshford could potentially shake up the General Classification from as early as day one.
You can view the full route, stage by stage, here: https://rasnamban.com/2025-route/
Teams
18 teams have entered this year’s race, with riders from 14 countries. Rás na mBan is very proud to see riders traveling not just from across Europe, but again from as far away as the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Ireland will be represented by five strong young riders on the national team for the upcoming race. They’ll be joined on the roads by Irish teams from the Cycling Ireland Women’s Commission, Torelli, Greenmount Cycling Academy and Pinergy Orwell Wheelers.
The UK is well represented throughout the peloton with Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team and O’Shea Development Team. They are joined by FTP Racing, Brother UK/OnForm and Jadan Vive le Velo.
Several teams from the Netherlands will line-up to race this week. Team Noord Holland returns to Kilkenny, while WV Breda Women CT will see Noor Dekker who finished 2nd on GC in 2024 in their ranks for the 2025 race edition. They are joined by Minigigs/Wielervereniging Breda to complete the Dutch entries for this year’s race.
Denmark’s Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark also return to Kilkenny, while the Lead Out Cycling Academy travels from Belgium. French team Ladynamips RVC has entered a strong team with Noemie Abgrall certainly one to watch.
In a first for Rás na mBan, we will see a Greek National team bolster the startlist, with the four travelling riders all having taken notable honours across Greece and Balkan Championships in recent years.
Finally, Alice McWilliam, Betty Hase and Elena Wu-Yan take to the startline as Team Phoenix, with all three riders formerly representing HESS Cycling. We admire their passion for the sport and look forward to seeing them on the roads of Ireland’s Ancient East this week.
To see a provisional startlist - click here
Riders to Watch
WV Breda Women CT - Noor Dekker
Dekker finished just six seconds shy of the overall win in the 2024 edition of Rás na mBan. Over the course of the week’s racing she finished on the podium of three stages, taking the win on the stage 5 Time Trial around Kilkenny castle.
Can she move up one place on GC for the overall win?
Women’s Commission - Linda Kelly
Fresh from securing back to back Para World Championships titles as pilot for Katie George-Dunlevy, Kelly is in flying form this season having finished 2nd in the Irish Time Trial Championships earlier this season.
Kelly was 6th on General Classification at Rás na mBan in 2023, only seven seconds behind the overall race winner, securing the Best Irish Rider jersey along the way.
Greece National Team - Varvara Fasoi
Fasoi has secured an impressive five Greek Time Trial titles and four National Road titles in recent years. She has also been runner-up in the road race on six occasions, while also boasting six podiums in the ITT the years she has not claimed the top spot.
Ladynamips RVC - Noemie Abgrall
Abgrall is the current National Amateur Champion in France. In 2022 she was the 3rd Elite at the French National Championships, and was also a part of the Tour de France Femmes the same year.
With teammates like Chloe Formigue and Sarah Pope, Abgrall is likely among the race favourites this week.
Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark - Louise Norman Hansen
The Danish rider is a former National Time Trial Champion, taking 3rd in the most recent edition. The 30 year old brings plenty of experience to the Aalborg Sparekassen team having raced both
World Championships and the Giro d’Italia in 2017 and 2018, along with the Santos Women’s Tour in 2018.
Team Phoenix - Betty Hasse
Hasse finished 20th on General Classification at Rás na mBan in 2024. However, the former US U23 National Time Trial Champion was an impressive 6th in the Women’s Elite National Time Trial this year, along with 15th in the Road Race.
The young rider has been based in Europe throughout the summer, refining her craft in Belgium throughout July. A rider who no doubt has eyes on the Best Young Rider jersey for 2025.
Team Ireland - Aliyah Rafferty
While the Team Ireland squad boasts five strong young riders, including Aine Doherty the current National Criterium Champion, 17 year old Aliyah Rafferty is a rider we’re excited to see take part this year. The 2025 Junior Road Race and Time Trial champion is also the former National Elite Cross Champion 2023.
Having finished 24th on General Classification in 2024, the only question on whether she’s aiming for the Best Young Rider in 2025, or higher, will depend on team tactics from a strong young team.
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