Tullamore to host opening stage of Ras Tailteann - Ireland's answer to Tour de France

Tullamore Cycling and Touring Club are delighted to have been chosen to host the beginning stage of this year’s Rás Tailteann and it wouldn’t have been able to happen without a number of organisations in Tullamore.

An enormous gratitude to Offaly County Council, Offaly Sports Partnership, An Garda Siochana, Chamber of Commerce, Tullamore GAA, Offaly Co Board and of course Rás Race Director Mr Gerard Campbell and Mr Seamus Donegan, RAS Official.

Rás Tailteann, often shortened to the Rás, is an annual international cycling stage race held in Ireland.  The 2024 edition of the Rás Tailteann will take place from Wednesday, May 22nd to Sunday, May 26th. This marks the 69th edition of the race. Let me provide you with more details about this exciting event:

Start Location:

The 2024 Rás Tailteann will kick off from Tullamore

The first stage finish will be in Kilmallock, County Limerick. This will be the first-ever Rás Tailteann stage to finish in Kilmallock.

Other stage finishes include:

Sneem, County Kerry, on the famous ‘Ring of Kerry’

Cahir, County Tipperary (which will see the first finish there since 1967)

Kildare Town, County Kildare

The fifth and final stage will finish in Bective, County Meath, where the race will take in three laps of a 14.1 km spectator-friendly finishing circuit.

Total Distance: Participants will cover a total of 784.8 km of Irish roads over the five stages.

Categorized Climbs: There are a total of eighteen categorized climbs, including two category one climbs on stages two and four.

In addition to the Irish teams, The Rás will see entries from 38 internationals teams from the following countries: England, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, China, The USA, Italy and Belgium.

On the morning, the cyclists will gather in the GAA grounds and will slowly make their way down to O’ Connor Square. From there, they will roll in a controlled peloton from O’ Connor square to the Mucklagh flyover, where the flag is dropped and the race officially starts.

Among the competitors is the 2024 Midlands Racing Team and staff who will compete in the 2024 Ras Tailteann 5 day International stage race. All riders have been selected from the Midland Interclub League. Team manager Donagh McArdle from Tullamore Cycling Club has stated: “I am delighted to be asked to co-manage the midlands racing team at Rás Tailteann 2024. For Tullamore to be chosen as a starting point, is a testament to where our club is at, and I’m sure Martina Martin (Chairperson, Tullamore Cycling) and her committee, along with our members will put on a great show. Our five riders are in great form going into the race and I’m really looking forward to all our lads giving it our best shot. Thanks to our sponsors and those who have helped to put us on the road again this year”.

To follow the Midlands team progress throughout race week, follow Midland Interclub League Facebook Page.