70 bunches of LAVÓ lavender to be presented to riders across the five days of high octane racing

31st August 2026


Rás na mBan is delighted to announce that LAVÓ, the Wicklow-based lavender producer, will return for the 20th edition of Ireland’s international stage race for women.

2026 is a landmark year in the history of women’s international cycle racing in Ireland and as race organisers prepare the final touches on what promises to be a thrilling week of racing, we’re delighted to confirm LAVÓ’s return to Rás na mBan.

LAVÓ has kindly sponsored some of our podium prizes in the form of fresh lavender bundles, with 70 bunches of LAVÓ lavender to be presented to riders across the five days of high octane racing.

Having travelled from across Europe and as far away as the USA, riders will depart from the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny on Wednesday September 2nd before taking on three all-new stages throughout the week.

Orna Mulcahy of LAVÓ said, “We at LAVÓ are very pleased to be supporting Rás na mBan and women’s cycling for another year. It’s an outstanding event that truly highlights some of the best of Ireland’s Ancient East. We’re delighted to be able to support a race of such prominence and contribute to marking the success of each athlete who makes their way to the podium.”

In welcoming LAVÓ back to Rás na mBan, Race Director Valerie Considine said, “It’s a pleasure to have LAVÓ return for another year supporting Rás na mBan. The lavender bunches they provide for our podium presentations are a lovely addition and the perfect sized long lasting memento of the riders achievements.

“We’ve heard of some of our riders keeping them on display to acknowledge their achievements, and of others using them to create smaller sachets for different uses. It’s a lovely alternative to provide with their jerseys to remember their achievements and a memento which places the emphasis on sustainability.”

Just-Print.ie Returns as Rás na mBan Stage Winner Jersey Sponsor

26th August 2026


Just-Print.ie returns to support Rás na mBan as Ireland’s top international stage race for women prepares for its 20th edition! Each stage across the five days will see riders competing for the highly contested Just-Print.ie stage winner jersey.

The 2026 edition of the race sees riders travel from across Europe and the USA to battle it out on the roads of Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow and Tipperary in what promises to be a thrilling six stage battle over five days.

Just-Print.ie have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ireland’s top international stage race for 2026, supplying the distinctive light blue daily stage winner’s jersey for Rás na mBan. The Dublin based print company also provides key graphic elements and signage for the multi-day event.

Commenting on the continued partnership with Rás na mBan Justin Byrne, CEO of Just-Print.ie said, “We’re delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with Rás na mBan, allowing us to showcase not only our own capabilities and services but also, in doing so, to support one of the most prestigious bike races in Ireland.

“The fast-paced nature of international bike racing chimes with the speed of design and delivery we can offer at Just-Print.ie and nicely complements our work. We share a common thread with both race organisers and top-level riders in recognising that hard work and dedication are paramount to achieving an important goal. We also recognise several of our core values in the work behind the scenes to make a race such as Rás na mBan happen - organisation, quality, presentation, and style.

“It’s always a pleasure to see the Just-Print.ie Stage Winners jersey in the bunch and we hope that seeing it in the peloton throughout the race will help to inspire the next generations of riders.”

In welcoming Just-Print.ie to Rás na mBan for another year, Race Director Valerie Considine said, “We’re delighted to have Just-Print.ie continue their support for Rás na mBan in 2026, supplying key graphic elements for our race as well as presenting the daily Stage Winners jersey.

“The quality and style of Just-Print.ie products is of the very highest calibre and aligns with our determination to present the very best race to the public. The Just-Print.ie Stage Winners Jersey is a point of pride to each rider who manages to take one home and we can’t wait to see them battle it out for each stage in September.”

The 2026 edition of the race sees riders travel from across Europe and the USA to battle it out on the roads of Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow and Tipperary in what promises to be a thrilling six stage battle over five days.

About Just-Print.ie

Based in Ballymount Cross Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 24, Just-Print.ie offers a fast, friendly and reliable printing service with state of the art digital and lithographic printing machinery.

Unlike many competitors Just-Print.ie employs a team of fully qualified graphic designers who can create outstanding promotional material to help customers advertise and sell their own products and services.

Web: Just-Print.ie / Twitter/Facebook: @justprintdublin / Instagram: justprintdublin

Johnson & Perrott Fleet returns for fifth year to support Rás na mBan

28th August 2026


Johnson & Perrott Fleet are set to return for the 20th edition of Rás na mBan, again taking the lead role in the race cavalcade. For the fifth time in as many years, the company will provide a fleet of essential cars and vans for the week, continuing a valued partnership with one of the country’s most prestigious sporting occasions.

The 20th edition of Rás na mBan sets off from Kilkenny on Wednesday, 2nd September, opening with a challenging 98km stage from Kilkenny City to Freshford. Across the five days of high octane racing Johnson & Perrott Fleet vehicles will be visible at the head of the race and within the cavalcade. The support provided by Johnson & Perrott Fleet ensures the smooth running of the races’ logistics allowing race organisers and riders to thrive across a thrilling week of top-level international competition.

Riders are travelling from around the country, across the continent and from as far away as the USA as race organisers finish putting the final touches on the upcoming week’s racing. We’re delighted to have Johnson & Perrott Fleet’s returning support allowing Rás na mBan to continue to produce such a high calibre event.

Jonathan O’Brien, Managing Director of Johnson & Perrott Fleet, commented, “This our 5th year supporting Rás na mBan and we’re very proud to be returning for what’s sure to be another top-class week of racing on Irish roads.

“Supporting the cavalcade gives us a chance to demonstrate the versatility of our vehicles and the breadth of solutions we provide for clients. Added to this, we recognise many of the qualities we strive for as a business reflected within the race; dedication, adaptability, speed, and strong decision-making.”

About Johnson & Perrott

Founded in 1985, Johnson & Perrott Fleet is celebrating 40 years of providing contract hire, leasing and fleet management solutions to businesses throughout Ireland.

Operating from South City Business Park in Tallaght, Johnson & Perrott Fleet manages a fleet of over 2,000 cars and commercial vehicles for both domestic and international customers, ranging from blue chip multinationals leasing over one hundred vehicles to home grown SME’s with less than five.

For more details about Johnson & Perrott Fleet see www.jpfleet.ie

Cycling Ireland Continues Support for Rás na mBan and Points Classification

RÁS NA MBAN 17th August 2026

Cycling Ireland continues support of Rás na mBan Points Classification.

Rás na mBan is delighted to announce Cycling Ireland will sponsor the Points classification for the 20th edition of Ireland’s international stage race for women.

Cycling Ireland joins a number of other Rás na mBan partners in extending their support for the race over the past several years. It's a testament to the strong relationships the race organisers have built and the value placed on multi-year collaborations to increase the sustainability of the event and enhance opportunities for women in cycling.


The Cycling Ireland Points jersey is awarded to the rider who shows the most consistency in stage finishes by accumulating the most points on offer for each stage.

With the race offering a variety of challenges throughout the six stages of racing, the Cycling Ireland Points jersey is always a hard fought competition. Points are awarded to the first ten riders across the line on each stage, apart from the stage five individual time trial. Point scoring opportunities are also available at the Intermediate Sprints in stages one to four.

The Points jersey is often the preserve of the sprinters, or the strong all rounder with a fast finishing kick. In 2025, just three points separated first, second and third in the Points Classification, with overall Magenta jersey winner Alice McWilliam securing the top spot to add to her week’s palamares.

Other past winners include Ireland’s Mia Griffin, the last Irish overall winner of Rás na mBan, Olympic silver medal winner Josie Knight, British road race and time trial national champion Alice Barnes, her sister Hannah Barnes, and Irish world championship rider, Cork’s Fiona Meade.

In announcing the extended collaboration with Rás na mBan, Cycling Ireland CEO James Quilligan said: “Cycling Ireland is delighted to renew its support of the Points Classification and Points Jersey at Rás na mBan. The jersey is an important part of the identity of the race and rewards the rider who can consistently perform at the highest level across the stages.

“Rás na mBan holds a very special place in the Irish cycling calendar and is hugely important to Cycling Ireland. It provides a world-class platform for women’s road racing in Ireland, bringing together leading domestic riders with some of the best international cyclists and giving Irish riders the opportunity to compete at a genuinely high level on home roads. As the race reaches its landmark 20th edition, its continued growth and international profile are a tremendous credit to everyone involved in organising and supporting it.

“We are proud to continue our association with Rás na mBan and to support a classification that reflects the depth and quality of racing the event produces. The race plays an important role in showcasing women’s cycling, inspiring participation and demonstrating the strength of the sport in Ireland. Cycling Ireland looks forward to seeing another fiercely contested Points Classification in 2026 and to celebrating the rider who earns the right to wear the Cycling Ireland Points Jersey.”

Rás na mBan Race Director Valerie Considine welcomed the continued Cycling Ireland support as the race organisers and volunteer crews prepare the final preparations ahead of September 2nd.

“We’ve been running Rás na mBan in its current format since 2006, and we’re delighted to see women’s cycling going from strength to strength on the international stage. We’re very happy to have the continued support of Cycling Ireland throughout the years, which has helped Rás na mBan to become the event it is today and offer Irish riders the opportunity to take on such a quality field on home roads.

“We regularly attract world class international riders to Ireland for this race, and we hope to continue to do so for many years to come. The support we receive from our partners makes this possible and we’re proud to work with Cycling Ireland to promote women’s racing and bring this race to life year after year.

“On behalf of the race organising committee I would like to thank Cycling Ireland for their continued support of Rás na mBan.”

About Cycling Ireland

Cycling Ireland (CI) is the National Governing Body for cycling on the island of Ireland, recognised internationally by the UCI and UEC. The organisation was founded in 1987 following the amalgamation of a number of cycling bodies. Cycling Ireland operates across all cycling disciplines and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising cycling activities. Cycling Ireland receives support from both governments on the island and is considered one of the three priority sports within the Irish Government’s National Sports Policy 2018-2027.

With a membership of over 26,000 people and nearly 500 clubs, Cycling Ireland sanctions approximately 1,000 events and manages more than 200,000 event entries annually. The organisation strategic vision is to develop an island enriched by cycling.

Sport Ireland continues support of Rás na mBan Best Young Rider.

RÁS NA MBAN 12th August 2026

As Rás na mBan prepares for its 20th edition of Ireland’s leading international stage race for women, we’re delighted to confirm Sport Ireland’s continued support which is recognised at the event through the Best Young Rider classification.


The Sport Ireland Best Young Rider jersey is a distinctive white jersey, granted to the best placed rider under the age of 23 on general classification at the end of each stage. Previous winners include Tour de France 2023 stage winner Emma Norsgaard and Track World Champion and Olympic medallist Josie Knight.

The Best Young Rider classification offers U23 riders the opportunity to compete at both the top level as well as within a separate younger classification as the race attracts elite cyclists from all over the world. The Sport Ireland Best Young Riders jersey serves as a symbol for the next generation of Rás na mBan riders and as an inspiration for all Irish bike riders regardless of their chosen discipline.

Speaking at the announcement of the organisation’s support for Rás na mBan, Sport Ireland CEO Dr Úna May said: “Sport Ireland is very proud to continue our support of Rás na mBan, including the Young Rider classification, which remains a real highlight of the women’s domestic cycling calendar.

"It's especially exciting to support Rás na mBan as it celebrates 20 years in its current format this year. As the race continues to go from strength to strength, it gives our athletes a chance to race against top international talent on home soil, while showcasing elite women’s road racing to an Irish audience.

"We've seen real growth and success in Irish women’s cycling in recent years, and races like Rás na mBan play a significant role in driving that momentum. Supporting events of this calibre is central to our strategic priorities around elevating the profile of women's sport and celebrating positive female role models for the next generation of athletes. We're particularly proud that this Sport Ireland sponsorship is equal to the amount given to the men's event."

Rás na mBan Race Director Valerie Considine welcomed the continued collaboration with Sport Ireland, saying, “The support from Sport Ireland has been invaluable in shaping the direction of Rás na mBan.

“The Sport Ireland Best Young Riders Classification is a focus to help encourage participation and nurture future generations of bike riders. The Young Rider classification is a vital aspect of the race, which assists us in promoting women’s cycling in Ireland, showcasing the sport to a broader audience and inspiring the next generation of cyclists.

“We see this event as a key component in making connections between our event and cycling within the wider community and it has been hugely encouraging to witness the spirit of cooperation from local and national agencies in the organisation of this event.

“On behalf of the race organising committee I would like to thank Sport Ireland for their continued commitment to supporting women’s cycling in Ireland.”

About Sport Ireland
Sport Ireland is the authority tasked with the development of sport in Ireland. This includes participation in sport, high performance sport, anti-doping, coaching and the development of the Sport Ireland Campus.

Sport Ireland’s vision is an active Ireland where everyone can enjoy the lifelong benefits of sport and physical activity. To advance this function, Sport Ireland provides direct, regular, financial support to 100 sports organisations including 65 National Governing Bodies, 10 other funded bodies, and 29 Local Sports Partnerships.

Through the Women in Sport Programme, Sport Ireland funds projects and initiatives for women and girls across a wide range of sports which support the National Sports Policy’s vision of removing barriers to participation and facilitating equal opportunity.

IVCA On Board to Back Rás na mBan Mountains Classification Again

RÁS NA MBAN 10th August 2026

Wicklow 200 reigns as Queen of the Mountains after 20 years of partnership with Rás na mBan

Rás na mBan is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and joining with Ireland's premier international stage race throughout that journey have been the Irish Veterans Cyclists Association, long time backers of the Queen of the Mountain classification through their popular Wicklow 200 sportive.

It's one of the most enduring partnerships in the history of Irish cycling, an important collaboration which has helped secure this iconic event, and has helped to promote one of Ireland's longest running leisure events in the process.

The Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains Classification is among the hardest fought jerseys in the race and former winners include Olympic Track medalist Elinor Barker and U23 & Junior European Track Champion Kate Richardson. 2016 World Road Race Champion Amalie Dideriksen has also claimed the jersey in the past, while Noémie Abgrall, Ladynamips RVC, took the honours in 2025.

Riders accumulate points by being among the leading riders on climbs of varying difficulty on four of the five days of racing.

At the end of the week the final Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains jersey is awarded to the rider with most points who has proven themselves to be the most adept at conquering the gradients presented.

This year’s route will see a particularly intense battle for the jersey with new stages alterations to existing stages in Kilkenny and Wexford, and two completely new stages in Tipperary and Carlow, with a summit finish on the latter.

Speaking on the announcement of the continuing Wicklow 200 partnership with the event, Race Director Valerie Considine said, “We’re delighted that our partnership with the IVCA continues to remain strong after 20 years of support, it’s something that we’re particularly proud of at Rás na mBan.

“The Wicklow 200 is one of Ireland’s longest running sportives and many of our Rás na mBan race volunteers are active racing members of the IVCA and have ridden or volunteered at the Wicklow 200.

“The battle for the Queen of the Mountains jersey is always particularly exciting and well fought. The changes to this year’s route should make the competition even more interesting as the week unfolds, especially with the return of a summit finish at Corrabut Gap. With a different twist on this year’s opening stage, we’re sure it will be a fight from the opening day for the climber’s jersey.”


About the IVCA

For more than 50 years, the Irish Veteran Cyclists Association (IVCA) has been organising racing and leisure events to encourage the continued participation of cyclists in the sport into their older years.

The prestigious Wicklow 200™ cycle challenge was established by the IVCA in 1982 and has become a firm favourite on the Irish Sportive calendar ever since.

For full route details:- click here

The official digital Road Book is now available

Featuring the six stage routes, race schedules, features, rider information and spectator guides for this landmark 20th edition.

Download your copy and get ready for five thrilling days of international women’s racing - Click here to download