Gearóid Campbell, Cairde Rás Tailteann, is joined by Arlene Regan, Marketing Manager at Mediahuis Ireland and Ciarán Lennon, Group Sports Editor (Daily) of the Irish Independent. (Photographer: David Conachy).

Press Release:
The 71st edition of Rás Tailteann will take place from May 20th to May 24th, 2026.

The event will start in Portlaoise, Co Laois on Wednesday, May 20th, heading south- west to finish in the historic Limerick heritage town of Kilmallock. Stage two will see a transfer to Rathmore, Co Kerry, where a long and demanding day awaits, taking in Kenmare, West Cork, the famed Tunnel Road / Caha Pass, Glengarriff and Gougane Gap before finishing in the Rás stronghold of Banteer, Co Cork.

Another transfer brings the race to Mitchelstown, Co Cork for the start of stage three. A fast and technical stage will traverse into Wexford, finishing with an uphill drag into Enniscorthy, a town well known for producing dramatic Rás finishes.

Stage four sees Rás Tailteann return to the Wicklow Mountains for the first time in eight years, starting in Carlow and finishing in Baltinglass. Riders will tackle the iconic Drumgoff / Shay Elliott Memorial and Wicklow Gap climbs on what promises to be one of the decisive days of the race.

The final stage will again start in Carlow, before crossing the plains of Carlow and Kildare, including the Category 3 Hill of Allen, and finishing in Dunboyne, Co Meath, where three laps of a testing finishing circuit will decide both the stage winner and the overall champion of Rás Tailteann 2026.

The 2026 edition of the race is again five stages and will cover 785 kilometres along the roads of Ireland, including 21 categorised climbs.

The official Rás Tailteann 2026 Irish Independent KOM Jersey. (Graphic supplied by Spin 11).

Sponsor 1 – Irish Independent – KOM Jersey

Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to confirm that the Irish Independent will once again sponsor the King of the Mountains (KOM) jersey for Rás Tailteann 2026, marking the third consecutive year of the Irish Independent supporting the classification. The Irish Independent KOM jersey continues to feature the distinctive design created by world-renowned designer Mark Porter, first introduced in 2024 and now firmly established as one of the most striking jerseys in Irish cycling.

The Irish Independent has been a trusted voice at the heart of Ireland’s story for more than 120 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 such as Seachtain.

Speaking on the continued sponsorship of the King of the Mountains jersey for Rás Tailteann 2026, Arlene Regan, Marketing Manager at Mediahuis Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Rás Tailteann and to once again sponsor the King of the Mountains jersey for 2026. The Rás is one of the most iconic sporting events in Ireland and it captures the spirit of communities right across the country as the race passes through towns and villages. Through our ‘Written All Over Ireland’ campaign, we’re proud to celebrate the people, places, and stories that make this race so special.

From the riders battling over the climbs to the communities welcoming the race, the Rás continues to create incredible moments that truly are written all over Ireland.” Gerard Campbell, Race Director, expressed his appreciation for the continued.

support of the Irish Independent: “We’re hugely grateful to the Irish Independent and Mediahuis for continuing their support of Rás Tailteann and the King of the Mountains classification. The KOM jersey has always been one of the most exciting competitions within the race and the Irish Independent’s backing helps us to further elevate that battle. With riders fighting for points on every climb, the competition for the jersey will once again be fierce and it adds another fantastic storyline for fans following the race.”

In addition to sponsoring the King of the Mountains jersey, the Irish Independent will once again publish a special Rás Diary each day during the event, following a rider’s journey through the race and giving readers a unique behind-the-scenes insight into the challenges, triumphs and personal stories that define Rás Tailteann. The Irish Independent will also run competitions for readers to win their own Irish Independent KOM jersey, allowing fans to share in the excitement of the race.

There will be plenty to race for in the King of the Mountains competition throughout the week. In addition to the prestigious KOM jersey itself, the leader of the classification at the end of each stage and the overall winner of the Irish Independent King of the Mountains competition will receive a €500 Blue Book voucher, kindly sponsored by the Irish Independent.

With 21 classified climbs on the route in 2026, the battle for the Irish Independent King of the Mountains jersey promises to be one of the most exciting competitions of the race.