Rough ride ahead as cyclists gears up for familiar Rás route

THERE will be familiar scenery for the race cavalcade to view when the 2008 FBD Insurance Rás hits the road on May 18.

But there will be little respite for the riders who face eight days, 20 King of the Mountain climbs and a total of 1224kilometre before arriving at the finish line in Skerries a week later.

This year will mark the 25th anniversary of FBD Insurance sponsorship of the race, making it one of the longest-running sports sponsorship in the country and the 2.2-ranked event begins with a 142km stage from Navan to Ballinamore featuring category three climbs at Kells and Slieve an gCallaigh and with these also doubling as hotspot sprints, valuable time bonuses will be up for grabs and could determine who wears the first yellow jersey.

Day two covers 167.5kms between Ballinamore and Claremorris and follows flat, fast roads. There is one category-three ascent at Slieve Gamph, and the stage will see plenty of attacking and tactical racing as the rides slug it out.

Stage three includes a gruelling first category climb less than 8km from the finish. The race runs 131kms between Claremorris and Lisdoonvarna and crosses both the third category ascent of Ballinalacken and then the crucial final ramp, the aforementioned Doonagore climb.

Day four takes the riders 155.6km from Corofin to Tralee. After a mainly flat first half, the peloton will face three category three ascents at Barnagh Gap, Glanshearoon and Barr na Gaoithe, then a fast run in to the finish.

Tralee to Skibbereen is the next stage, a 141km mountain leg which could have a big effect on the bunch. There are five big climbs to cover, including the category two ascents of Farranfore, Ladies View, Molls Gap and Turners Rock, plus the category three Derrycreha.

The following day from Skibbereen to Clonmel, the longest stage of the race, is a torturous 180km of undulating roads to Mitchelstown and then fast, flat roads to the finish on O’Connell Street in busy Clonmel. It is followed by another very long stage of 177km from Clonmel to Roundwood. As this stage features some very serious climbing in the final hour it is likely to be one of the most decisive days in the Rás.

The climbing begins with the third category ascent of Glenbower and is later followed by the category one pairings of Slieve Maan and Drumgoff. These come in quick succession and with a first-ever stage finish in Roundwood coming just 22km after the final climb, the bunch will be very fragmented that evening.

The final stage takes the riders 130km from Newbridge to Skerries and features four category three climbs. These are Pluckhimin, Cross of the Cage plus the Black Hills climb, which will be covered on each of the two finishing circuits. The peloton will battle it outright until the final kilometres, guaranteeing an exciting finale to this year’s FBD Insurance RÁS on Sunday May 25.