Drogheda's warmest of welcomes to iconic Rás Tailteann cycle race
The event's base on the morning of the race was St Nicholas GAA Club on Rathmullen Road and members of the public met some of the riders and teams and soaked up the pre-race buzz.
The peloton then left the GAA grounds and travelled to the official ceremonial start on West Street, and from there, the riders headed out the Donore Road, turned right at Frank's Country Cottage and then left along the canal and over the Obelisk Bridge, before racing proper got under way on the main Slane road.
It was an explosive start to this historic 70th edition of the event, with attacking racing from the flag. An early eight-man breakaway animated much of the day and featured Peter Cocker (DAS Richardsons), Aaron King (Wheelbase / Cabtech / Castelli), Odhran Doogan (Team Ulster), Owen Wright (Canel's Java), Robin Fischer (Team Storck-Metropol Cycling), Danylo Riwnyi (Foran CT) and the Team Skyline due of Conn McDunphy and Ronan O'Connor.
However, with 20km to go the breakaway's advantage began to crumble as teams such as Great Britain CT, Connacht, and Wheelbase / Cabtech / Castelli ramped up the pace and in the closing metres it was Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase/Cabtech/Castelli) who showed his power and positioning to perfection, storming to victory ahead of Irish sensation Niall McLoughlin (Connacht Cycling) and Will Tidball (Great Britain CT) in a dramatic bunch sprint.
As part of the 70th edition celebrations, Stage 1 was proudly dedicated to the thousands of volunteers - from marshals to mechanics and community hosts to convoy drivers - who have supported the Rás Tailteann over the decades and without whom the Rás simply wouldn't exist.
This year's race was also particularly special for Drogheda, with four of the six members of the Rás promotions group hailing from the town, making it a true homecoming for one of Ireland's most iconic races.
Drogheda's sole competitor, Kevin Leech, a proud member of Drogheda Wheelers but representing the Connacht Cycling team in the race, managed to finish the race in a respectable 127th place.
Leech also finished the Rás in 2022 but had to withdraw in 2023 after he was injured in a crash.
In all, 145 riders from 29 teams took part in the race over five days, and there was a thrilling climax on Sunday as the final stage took the competitors 142.8km from Kildare Town to the finish in Bective, Co Meath.
George Kimber of Cycling Club Isle of Man emerged victorious in the general classification, claiming the Bective Stud Yellow Jersey and the title of Rás Tailteann champion by a margin of just five seconds, with Ireland's Jamie Meehan and Odhrán Doogan in second and third places overall.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Max O'Leary ready for Ireland debut after years of patience
Ireland's goalkeeping cohort doesn't fit the stereotype of being brash and loud. Between Caoimhín Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu, Mark Travers and Max O'Leary, none would be renowned for raising their voice. Their predecessors Shay Given and Darren Randolph could be heard far and wide, on and off the pitch, especially within the team hotel base. O'Leary has been around the squad for six years but there's mitigation to his silence. Primarily, he arrived on the international scene just as a generation of rivals were emerging from the underage ranks. First came Travers, then Kelleher and Bazunu in quick succession – five years between them in age – and they've each amassed Premier League experience. O'Leary was two games away from joining them in the top-flight when Bristol City made the Championship playoffs but differed in being the first-choice of his employers. What he doesn't have to his name is a cap. The 28-year-old from Bath declared in 2019 through his late grandfather Sean O'Leary, who emigrated from Farranfore, Co Kerry to England. Bazunu and Travers are not part of the squad for the summer friendlies and though Kelleher will start Friday's first against Senegal, there will be scope by the end of Tuesday's in Luxembourg to rotate between the posts. 'It's something I've wanted to do - I've been around a while now and seen a few managers – so hopefully I'll get my opportunity soon,' he said in his first appearance before the media. 'I've always prepared the same, whether playing or not. 'Whatever I can do to help who is playing, I know I'd want the same if I was playing, so just to have that good environment in training, pushing each other. 'Putting whoever's playing first rather than yourself has been good, whether that's Caoimhin, Gav or Mark. 'I've had my time not playing at club level when I was younger so I know what it's like'. Not anymore. He's been with the Robins since his early teens and had to be patient to become No 1 since 2023. 'Nigel Pearson was my manager at the time and he told me to go and express myself,' explained O'Leary about his breakthrough. 'He knew and didn't care that I'd make mistakes because he was going to back you regardless. 'I have definitely matured in my goalkeeping. You get into a rhythm of playing, especially with the volume of the Championship, and feel I have done well over that longer period of time.' His manager Liam Manning has just left for Norwich City and while Kelleher has also moved clubs they're still working together within the Irish set-up. 'He's a great 'keeper and a great lad as well,' he said of the Corkman, whose transfer from Liverpool to Brentford for an initial £12.5m fee was completed during this week.' 'We have a good time when we come away to the Ireland camp. 'I think it's a good move for him. To be playing regular football is what he wants. It looks like he can get that opportunity now.' O'Leary will be glad of his over the next five days.
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘I feel like I've thrown everything out there' – Emily Murphy one of four Irish players to share €30k Sky bursary
This has been quite a significant week in the educational life of Irish striker Emily Murphy – both on and off the pitch. After clinching a last-minute winner for Carla Ward's side in Istanbul's great escape last Friday, she firmly established herself as a potential first-choice pick in Cork last night, delivering a powerful performance on both flanks in the 1-0 victory against Slovenia.
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘I feel like I've thrown everything out there' – Emily Murphy one of four Irish players to share €30k bursary from Sky
This has been quite a significant week in the educational life of Irish striker Emily Murphy – both on and off the pitch. After clinching a last-minute winner for Carla Ward's side in Istanbul's great escape last Friday, she firmly established herself as a potential first-choice pick in Cork last night, delivering a powerful performance on both flanks in the 1-0 victory against Slovenia.
