Is the Rás still as revered and relevant as it once was?

Irish Examiner cycling journalist Brian Canty and Irish Times cycling journalist Shane Stokes discuss three key questions ahead of this year's race.

Action from the 2018 Rás Tailteann — the last staging of the event. Lack of sponsorship and Covid meant the iconic race has been sidelined for four years. It returns this week, running over five stages starting with Wednesday's stage from Tallaght Stadium to Horse & Jockey and finishing on Sunday in Co Louth. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho

The 67th edition of the Rás starts on Wednesday in Tallaght with 175 riders making up 35 teams. It's the first time the race has been held since 2018 - owing to a lack of sponsorship in 2019 and a global pandemic in the interim - but it's back on the road after a four-year hiatus.

And it's in a very different place to then too.