The event will start in the cycling stronghold of Drogheda, Co Louth on Wednesday, May 21st heading westwards to finish in Boyle, Co Roscommon. A transfer to Charlestown for the start of stage two where the riders will take on the infamous Windy Gap and Maumtrasna climbs in the longest of the 2025 Rás Tailteann stages. Another transfer to Co Mayo for the start of stage three, where Cong will welcome the Rás Tailteann.
After setting off from Cong, the riders will take in breathtaking scenery along the Wild Atlantic Way before they face the fast finish towards Miltown Malbay in County Clare. The penultimate stage will kick off from Ennis, Co Clare and take on 2 x category three climbs before crossing the category one Wolftrap climb with less than 15KM remaining – will there be enough time to regroup before the finish in Mountrath, Co Laois?
The final stage of Rás Tailteann 2025 will kick off in Kildare Town heading across the plains of ‘The Lilywhite County’ before entering Co Meath where again, the winner of Rás Tailteann will be crowned in Bective. The 2025 edition of the race is again five stages and will take on over 760KM along the roads of The Emerald Isle, including 13 categorised climbs.
Gearóid Campbell from Cairde Rás Tailteann is joined by Ciarán Lennon, Group Sports Editor (Daily) of the Irish Independent and Arlene Regan, Marketing Manager of Mediahuis Ireland. (Photographer: Mark Condren)
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Sponsor 5 – Irish Independent – KOM Jersey
Cairde Rás Tailteann is thrilled to announce that the Irish Independent will once again sponsor the KOM jersey for Rás Tailteann 2025.
The Irish Independent has been a trusted voice at the heart of Ireland’s story for more than 110 years. Today, it is not only the country’s best-selling daily newspaper but also Ireland’s leading digital news destination, connecting readers across every platform. Now part of Mediahuis, one of Europe’s leading media companies, the Irish Independent continues to deliver quality journalism to readers across Ireland, publishing in English and Irish through platforms like Seachtain.
Speaking on their continued sponsorship of the King of the Mountains jersey for Rás Tailteann 2025, Arlene Regan, Marketing Manager, Mediahuis Ireland, said: “We are proud to continue our partnership with Rás Tailteann for the second year in a row. Through our ‘Written All Over Ireland’ campaign, we’re more committed than ever to celebrating the communities, the cyclists, and the extraordinary stories that define this iconic event.
From Drogheda to Miltown Malbay, Clifden to Boyle, we’ll be right there with the communities as they write their own chapters in the history of this event. As proud supporters of Irish sport and culture, we are delighted to partner with Rás Tailteann 2025 – celebrating the spirit, endurance, and community that is written all over Ireland.”
Ger Campbell, Race Director, expressed his thanks for Mediahuis and the Irish Independent’s continued involvement: “It’s been a pleasure to see our partnership with the Irish Independent grow and strengthen. Their support for the King of the Mountains jersey continues to elevate the race, and we’re excited to see the impact of their ‘Written All Over Ireland’ campaign. The Irish Independent’s involvement is a fantastic addition to the event, and we’re looking forward to another year of great racing and community engagement.”
The official KOM jersey for Rás Tailteann 2025. (Graphics: Spin 11)
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In addition to sponsoring the King of the Mountains jersey, the Irish Independent will publish a special Rás Diary each day throughout the event. This feature will follow a rider’s journey during the race, offering readers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, triumphs, and personal stories of one of the competitors. The Rás Diary will bring fans closer to the action, providing a unique perspective on the race each day.
The Irish Independent will also run competitions for readers to win their very own Irish Independent KOM jersey, giving fans a chance to be part of the excitement and celebrate the spirit of the event.
The Irish Independent KOM jersey will once again feature the distinctive design created by world-renowned designer Mark Porter. First introduced in 2024, this fresh and striking look continues to celebrate the spirit of the King of the Mountains classification.
With 13 classified climbs on the route this year, competition for the coveted Irish Independent KOM jersey promises to be as fierce as ever.
Visiting Team 8 – Team GB – United Kingdom
Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to announce our eighth visiting team for the 2025 event: the Great Britain National Team, returning to the race for the first time since 2010. This marks a significant and highly anticipated return for Team GB, bringing a squad of elite riders to compete in the 70th edition of Ireland’s premier stage race.
Will Tidball celebrates after winning the 2023 scratch race at the World Track Championships. (Credits: Team GB)
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The 2025 Great Britain National Team is managed by Ben Greenwood and features a roster of accomplished riders with impressive credentials on both the road and track. The team includes:
Josh Charlton – A versatile rider with strong performances in both road and track disciplines. Notably, he secured 6th place in the U23 Individual Time Trial at the 2023 UCI Road World Championships and was part of the British team that won the U23 European Team Pursuit title in 2023.
Rhys Britton – A seasoned track specialist with multiple national titles and international medals. He was part of the British team that won the Team Pursuit at the 2024 UCI Track World Championships and has been a consistent performer in UCI Nations Cup events.
Will Tidball – The 2023 World Champion in the Scratch race, Will has also achieved success in the U23 European Championships, securing gold in the Team Pursuit and silver in the Omnium.
Sam Fisher – A promising talent with strong performances in domestic races, Sam is eager to make his mark on the international stage at Rás Tailteann.
Will Salter – A rider with a solid track record in both road races and criteriums, Will brings experience and versatility to the team.
Team Manager Ben Greenwood expressed his enthusiasm about the team's participation: "We are thrilled to be returning to Rás Tailteann for the first time since 2010. The race has always been a prestigious event, and we are excited to bring a team with such depth and talent. Our goal is to be competitive across all stages and classifications, and we look forward to the challenges and opportunities that the 70th edition presents."
Race Director Ger Campbell welcomed the return of the Great Britain National Team: "It’s fantastic to have Team GB back at Rás Tailteann after a long absence. With their impressive roster and strong track record, they are sure to be a formidable presence in this year's race. We look forward to seeing how they perform in the 70th edition."
Visiting Team 7 – DAS Richardsons – United Kingdom
Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to announce our seventh visiting team for the 2025 event: DAS Richardsons from the United Kingdom. This will be their third appearance at Rás Tailteann, having first competed in the race in 2023, and the team returns in 2025 with ambitions to build on their previous successes.
Alex Pritchard of DAS Richardsons wins stage one of Rás Tailteann 2024 into Kilmallock. (Photographer: Lorraine O’Sullivan)
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DAS Richardsons has made a significant impact in their first two editions, securing the yellow jersey in both 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Conor McGoldrick claimed the opening stage victory and held onto the yellow jersey until the final stage, where Dillon Corkery took the overall win, with Conor finishing 3rd and also winning the King of the Mountains jersey. In 2024, Alex Pritchard won the opening stage into Kilmallock but wasn't able to retain the yellow jersey after stage 2.
For the 2025 edition, DAS Richardsons brings a strong team of experienced riders, four of whom have already raced at Rás Tailteann. The team includes Pete Cocker, Jordan Giles, Will Perrett (5th overall in 2024), Alex Peters (Rás Tailteann yellow jersey holder in 2014) and Michael Gill (Rás debutant).
Team Manager Andy Lyons shared his excitement about returning to Rás Tailteann: “It’s great to be returning to the Rás Tailteann for a third year. It’s become a highlight of our season. We have selected a strong team with a good level of experience and following our good fortune and results from the last two Rás editions, it would be fantastic to repeat some of that. The Rás is a special race with a lot of history, so as long as we are competitive and do the race justice, we’ll be happy.”
Race Director Ger Campbell welcomed DAS Richardsons back to the event: “We are excited to welcome DAS Richardsons back for their third appearance at Rás Tailteann. With their strong history in the race, including multiple yellow jerseys, they are certainly a team to watch in 2025. We look forward to seeing what they achieve this year.”
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