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Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
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.
Irish Independent
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
George Kimber survives Daire Feeley's final-day fireworks to win Rás Tailteann crown
Kimber, riding for the Isle of Man team, took over the yellow jersey yesterday in winning the penultimate stage into Mountrath, and despite going into today's finale with a five-second lead over nearest rival Jamie Meehan of Team Ireland, managed to hold onto it despite numerous attacks along the 142km route. Most notable of those came was from 2022 winner Daire Feeley, who has been writing a daily Rás diary for the Irish Independent. Feeley went clear from the gun with Ireland's Dean Harvey, Patrick O'Loughlin of Pinergy Orwell and British rider Cameron McLaren (TAAP-Kalas) for company and, with the race shattered under the strain behind, the quartet opened a big enough gap for Feeley to become race leader on the road after just 20km. As the rain poured down, Feeley's group increased their lead until Harvey, under team orders, stopped contributing. By Trim, Feeley had had enough and attacked out of the front group, only to be followed by Harvey. The duo were caught by a dozen chasers shortly after and their lead went out to more than a minute. With Feeley the only overall contender in the group, he looked like a shoo-in for a second Rás title but with only four or the five of the group working at the front, their gap began to dwindle on the finish circuits in Bective. Third overall, Odhran Doogan got across the gap on his own with about 4km to go but it wasn't until there were just 3km left that Kimber regained contact and saved his race. 'I don't know how we did it to be honest,' a delighted Kimber said. 'We've got a young team here, two guys straight out of juniors pretty much. We had to play it patiently. I didn't think it would be that hard.' At one point, Kimber was in the third group on the road on the finishing circuit. 'It was splitting all over the place and I just had to bridge so many gaps on my own,' he said. 'At one point I didn't think I'd make it but I just kept going for the pride of the jersey. They must have eased up and I managed to get over, but I honestly don't know how.' Up front, Charlton had by then used the skills that earned him the British U-23 time trial title a couple of years ago to hold off the rest of the race with a solo attack on the last lap to claim stage victory 58 seconds ahead of a peloton led home by John Buller (Banbridge Specsavers) and former race leader Doogan (Cycling Ulster). 'The course was pretty ideal for me,' said Charlton at the line. 'I was tired but there were a lot of tired legs out there, so it was about who suffered the most. I just closed my eyes and fought like a dog and managed to hold on. I'm just chuffed because I got second earlier in the week and tried a few times, so it's amazing to get the win.' Donegal youngster Jamie Meehan went home with second overall and the white jersey of best U-23 rider, although the pangs of disappointment at missing out on overall glory by just five seconds could be heard in his voice afterwards. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'It would have been nice to get the five seconds back but, considering I came into the race not knowing if I'd make it to the last day, I'm happy enough overall,' Meehan said, referring to a broken hand which required surgery only a week and a half before the Rás start. 'It was a bit of an unknown, how it would hold up, but luckily it did.' Another Donegal man, Doogan finished third overall. The 21-year-old took home the green points jersey for his efforts this week, as well as the blue jersey for best county rider overall. With two days in yellow as well, it was a good week for the man from Gortahurk. 'I'm very happy,' said Doogan. 'I had expectations coming into it because the form is good but to find myself in the yellow jersey I didn't really expect that. Even though I didn't manage to hold onto it, I can take a lot of confidence away from the week and I can't be too upset with how it went.' With the breakaway mopping up the final mountains points on offer on this year's Rás on Quarry Hill, Adam Lewis took the Irish Independent King of the Mountains competition. While the Richardson DAS Team were best international team over the five days, the Banbridge Specsavers team of Matthew Teggart, Mark Downey, John Buller, James Curry and Johnny McRoberts took home the best county team award.
RTÉ News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Odhran Doogan drops back as George Kimber wins stage to take yellow jersey at Rás Tailteann
The Rás Tailteann looks to be heading towards a tense, exciting final day following another shakeup of the general classification on Saturday. Isle of Man CC rider George Kimber leaped from fourth to first overall on the short 128.1km stage from Ennis to Mountrath, deposing overnight race leader Odhran Doogan (Cycling Ulster) inside the final 20km of racing. Kimber had started the day six seconds back but Doogan was unable to remain in contact when Team Ireland duo Dean Harvey and Jamie Meehan floored the pace on the first category climb of Wolftrap. This topped out just 14km from the end of the stage and with only Kimber and Adam Lewis (USA Team Skyline) able to hold the two climbing specialists, Doogan was in trouble. Lewis was dropped on the run in to the line and while Doogan attacked the chasing bunch behind, he was unable to make any inroads into the leading trio's advantage. He finished in the bunch 28 seconds back, dropping to third overall. "I'm just so happy," Kimber told RTE Online. "It felt amazing, and also to repay the team. They have been very supportive, so to be able to give something back is great." Taller and heavier than Harvey and Meehan, he said that he struggled at times to hold the Team Ireland riders on the final climb. However he clung on and then provided important horsepower on the downhill and flat run in to the finish. "He stuck with us," Meehan told RTE Online. "He didn't help us too much on the steep bits, but he was quite strong in the flat. He was obviously going quite well to get over the climb with us. "We had a plan to go on the climb with me and Dean. We did what we were supposed to do, so we can be happy with that. And tomorrow's another day." Indeed it is, with the concluding stage taking the riders from Kildare Town to Bective. It is 155.7km in length and mainly flat, but Meehan will do what he can to try to overcome his slender five second deficit. Doogan too said he will keep fighting. He is now 22 seconds back and while he knows retaking yellow will be difficult, he will give it a shot. "There's still a day to go. It's not over yet. It's not a massive gap, but it's bigger than I had in any stage so far. It'll definitely be a challenge, but it's definitely not over." Meehan said the same. "This is the Rás. It is all to play for." With a total of 13 riders within a minute of Kimber, he knows that a lot of work still needs to be done. "It would be huge to do it," he said. "It's nice having the stage win, though, because whatever happens tomorrow, we have still got that to take home."
Irish Independent
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
George Kimber outsprints Team Ireland duo to take yellow jersey on penultimate Rás stage
Kimber went clear with the Irish duo over the top of the Wolftrap climb after 114km of the 128km fourth stage, and admitted afterwards that he was hanging onto their coat tails on the rise to the summit. 'It was Ireland that kept the pace high on the climb,' said Kimber afterwards. 'My position was pretty good but then they went really hard from the bottom and I was probably about 10 or 15 wheels back. 'I know how well those guys climb, so I went full gas to get over to them. They had me on the limit to be fair, as I was the only 70 kg-plus guy left, but I said to them basically 'If you take it steady on the steep bits, I'll help you over the top'. I think they needed me on the fast bits and we worked well together.' Overnight leader Odhran Doogan found himself in the chase group behind, which also contained most of the top ten overall, including Irish duo Matthew Teggart and 2022 winner Daire Feeley, but they couldn't match the lead trio on the run-in to Mountrath. By the time Mexican Sebastian Brenes led them over the line 14km later, they had lost 28 seconds to stage winner Kimber. 'I was glad we didn't play games because that could have ruined our chances of keeping the gap but the commitment was there,' said 25-year-old Kimber, who began the day just six seconds off the race lead. 'We were sort of team time trialling it until about 300 metres to go and I just backed my sprint in the end. I've been sprinting quite well this year. 'I don't know them [Harvey and Meehan] personally but just being the only big guy left, I was pretty confident. This is huge for me. It's the biggest win of my career, so I'm really happy at the moment.' Kimber now leads the Rás by five seconds from Meehan, with previous leader Doogan dropping to third at 22 seconds with Matteo Cigala at 25 seconds, Brenes at 28 seconds, Feeley at 32 seconds and Teggart and the rest of the top ten at 33 seconds. As well as the yellow jersey, most of the other jerseys in the race changed hands with Pan American road-race silver medallist Brenes taking over the green jersey of points leader. Meehan took the white of under 23 leader and Doogan wearing the blue jersey of best county rider overall. The only jersey that didn't change hands was the Irish independent King of the Mountains jersey. Alan Lewis of Team Skyline consolidated his lead in the competition by taking points at the summit of both Portumna and Wolftrap. With just one climb left on Sunday's stage, that almost guarantees victory in the classification. 'After wearing it all week keeping it was definitely one of the goals for today,' said Lewi. 'I was also hoping to maybe move up on GC and try and take yellow as well. It was full gas from the bottom of the last climb. 'The Irish lads set a very hard pace all the way up and unfortunately I lost contact a few hundred metres from the top and got caught by the second group with 4km to go, so that didn't work out. But this was the primary goal and that has been a success, so I can ride into Bective tomorrow with the jersey.' With just a 143km mainly flat stage to Bective remaining on in the Rás, new race leader Kimber hopes to retain his yellow jersey by simply doing what he has done all week. 'As I've been doing this whole race, I'll just be keeping an eye on the strong guys and keep following them,' he said. 'There's no need to overcomplicate it. I don't need to make the race. I just need to follow. That'll be the plan.'
Irish Independent
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Where to watch the Rás Tailteann in Kildare
The 70th edition of the annual international cycling stage race began on Wednesday, with the cyclists arriving in Kildare tomorrow during the last day of racing. Stage one of the race began on in the cycling stronghold of Drogheda, heading westwards to the finishline in Boyle, Co Roscommon. On stage two, the cyclists kicked off in Charlestown, Co. Mayo, and took on the infamous Windy Gap and Maumtrasna climbs in the longest of the stages. Mayo was again the start for stage three of the race, with cyclists heading off from Cong, along the Wild Atlantic Way and finishing in Miltown Malbay in Co Clare. Today's penultimate stage kicked off in Ennis, Co Clare and will end in Mountrath in Co Laois. Stage five of the 2025 Rás Tailteann: Kildare Town to Bective The fifth and final stage tomorrow is when the Rás will finally arrive in Co Kildare. This stage will see competitors cycle a distance of 142.8km from Kildare Town to Bective in Co Meath. Stage five will begin with the ceremonial start at 11.57am at the Kildare Heritage Centre in Kildare Town on the R415. Once the race begins, competitors will travel through Kildare Town, arriving in Miltown at about 12.05pm. From there, the cyclists will ride over the hump back bridge at the Hanged Man's Pub before turning left at David's Shop. It's expected the competitors will hit Kilmeague approximately between 12.12pm and 12.16pm. From there, they will turn left at Eleson Pub, head over the hump back bridge at Travellers Rest before eventually arriving in Allenwood between 12.18pm and 12.24pm. At Allenwood, they will turn left at Allenwood Stars, before hitting Derrinturn approximately between 12.29pm and 12.39pm. In Derrinturn, the cyclists will take the second exit at the roundabout travelling in the direction of the Enfield R402. Kilshanroe will be the last place in Co Kildare to catch a glimpse of the elite cyclists before they enter Co Meath and head towards the finish line. The cyclists are expected to travel through Kilshanroe approximately between 12.39pm and 12.52pm. From there, they will enter Co Meath, racing through Johnstown Bridge, Longwood and Dunsany. There is just one category three climb during this final day of racing and that's at Quarry Hill as the race leaves Dunsany. The riders will then enter the finishing circuit where it could well be a day for the sprinters. With a slightly changed circuit for 2025, four laps of the 12km loop will bring the curtain down on Rás Tailteann 2025 with a new champion of the George Plant Trophy to be crowned. The last hour of racing around the confines of Bective Stud promises to be a special spectacle for spectators and riders alike.
