Latest news with #RásTailteann2025
Irish Examiner
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kimber claims Rás Tailteann title by narrowest of margins from Jamie Meehan
Stage 5 of Rás Tailteann 2025 brought the curtain down on a dramatic and high-speed week of racing, with the final 142.8km from Kildare Town to Bective offering a fitting finale. The day belonged to Josh Charlton (Great Britain CT), who stormed clear to take the stage win, but it was George Kimber (Cycling Club Isle of Man) who emerged victorious in the general classification, claiming the Bective Stud Yellow Jersey and the title of Rás Tailteann champion. Ireland's Jamie Meehan and Odhrán Doogan took second and third place overall. The stage began at a furious pace with a group of four riders quickly going clear. The quartet of Cameron McLaren, Dean Harvey, Daire Feeley and Patrick O'Loughlin opened up a gap of over a minute in the early kilometres despite wet and greasy road conditions. Behind them, the bunch remained cautious, with the yellow jersey George Kimber sitting deep in the peloton. As the race passed through Longwood, Feeley began to assert himself, clearly aiming to claw back his deficit on the general classification. By the time the riders reached Trim, he had gone clear with Harvey, and soon after, the break swelled to 14 riders including key names such as Mark Downey, Tom Martin, Ronan O'Connor, and Josh Charlton sitting 32 seconds off yellow at the start of the day, spent significant time on the front and was the virtual leader on the road with three laps of the Bective circuit to go. The final Category 3 KOM at Quarry Hill saw Gilsenan take max points ahead of Feeley, O'Connor and Pritchard. The peloton, led by UCD and Ride Revolution, began to close the gap, and attacks began to fly as riders sensed the final opportunity to alter the general classification. With just over 10km to go, Odhrán Doogan (77 – Cycling Ulster) launched a late solo move in a final bid to take yellow. However, Kimber remained calm, backed by his remaining teammates, and managed to control the margin to secure overall victory by five seconds. At the front, Josh Charlton had timed his move to perfection, sprinting clear of the reduced front group to take a fine stage win in Bective.
RTÉ News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
George Kimber claims 2025 Rás Tailteann title by four seconds from Jamie Meehan
Stage five of Rás Tailteann 2025 brought the curtain down on a dramatic and high-speed week of racing, with the final 142.8km from Kildare Town to Bective offering a fitting finale. The day belonged to Josh Charlton (Great Britain CT), who stormed clear to take the stage win, but it was George Kimber (Cycling Club Isle of Man) who emerged victorious in the general classification, claiming the Bective Stud Yellow Jersey and the title of Rás Tailteann champion. Ireland's Jamie Meehan and Odhrán Doogan ended up in second and third place overall. The stage began at a furious pace with a group of four riders quickly going clear. The quartet of Cameron McLaren, Dean Harvey, Daire Feeley and Patrick O'Loughlin opened up a gap of over a minute in the early kilometres despite wet and greasy road conditions. Behind them, the bunch remained cautious, with the yellow jersey George Kimber sitting deep in the peloton. As the race passed through Longwood, Feeley began to assert himself, clearly aiming to claw back his deficit on the general classification. By the time the riders reached Trim, he had gone clear with Harvey, and soon after, the break swelled to 14 riders including key like Mark Downey, Tom Martin, Ronan O'Connor and Josh Charlton. Feeley, sitting 32 seconds off yellow at the start of the day, spent significant time on the front and was the virtual leader on the road with three laps of the circuit to go. The final Category 3 KOM at Quarry Hill saw Gilsenan take max points ahead of Feeley, O'Connor and Pritchard. The peloton, led by UCD and Ride Revolution, began to close the gap, and attacks began to fly as riders sensed the final opportunity to alter the general classification. With just over 10km to go, Odhrán Doogan launched a late solo move in a final bid to take yellow. However, Kimber remained calm, backed by his remaining teammates, and managed to control the margin to secure overall victory by five seconds. At the front, Charlton had timed his move to perfection, sprinting clear of the reduced front group to take a fine stage win in Bective.
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.
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
First stage of world-renowned Rás Tailteann to finish in County Roscommon town
The 70th edition of the famous cycling race will see competitors begin with a 150-kilometre-plus trek from Drogheda, Co Louth, to Boyle on the first day of the race. The peloton is expected to arrive in Boyle between 2.30pm and 3.00pm, depending on racing speeds, with the finish line located outside An Craoibhín Bar in the heart of the town centre. Spectators are encouraged to line the streets early for the event. The best viewing points will be along the approach roads into Boyle and at the finish line at An Craoibhín. Boyle has a proud connection to the Rás through Daire Feeley, who famously won the overall title in 2022. This marks the first time since 1994 that the Rás will finish a stage in Boyle. Rás Tailteann Race Director Ger Campbell said: 'Boyle has such strong sporting traditions and a real passion for cycling. We can't wait to showcase the energy and excitement the Rás brings to every town it visits.' Local stage end organiser Noel Feeley said it is 'a huge privilege to welcome such a prestigious event to Boyle'. 'The whole community has pulled together to prepare a real celebration, and we're encouraging everyone to come out, enjoy the day, and make it one to remember,' he said. Co-organiser Carmel Regan said the town is 'ready to roll out the red carpet for the riders and visitors'. 'We hope everyone will come and experience the magic of a Rás finish in our town,' she added. The first stage of the 70th Rás Tailteann will arrive in Boyle on Wednesday, May 21. Sunny weather with temperatures of up to 20 degrees have been promised for the town. Stage two of the event will start in Charlestown Co Mayo, before riders take on the infamous Windy Gap and Maumtrasna climbs in the longest of the 2025 Rás Tailteann stages. Another transfer to Co Mayo will see the third stage of the race begin in Cong, where the riders will take in breathtaking scenery along the Wild Atlantic Way before they face the fast finish towards Miltown Malbay in Co Clare. The penultimate stage will kick off from Ennis, Co Clare and finish in Mountrath, Co Laois. The final stage of Rás Tailteann 2025 will begin in Kildare town before entering Co Meath where the winner of Rás Tailteann will be crowned in Bective. The 2025 edition of the race will again involve five stages and stretches over 760 kilometres, including 13 categorised climbs
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Where to watch the 2025 Rás Tailteann in Kildare
The 70th edition of the annual international cycling stage race will begin on Wednesday, May 21, with the cyclists arriving in Kildare for the last day of racing on Sunday, May 25. Stage one of the race will begin on Wednesday, May 21 in the cycling stronghold of Drogheda in Co Louth, heading westwards to finish in Boyle, Co Roscommon. For stage two of the race, the cyclists will be transferred to Charlestown where the riders will take on the infamous Windy Gap and Maumtrasna climbs in the longest of the 2025 Rás Tailteann stages. Stage three of the race will start in Co Mayo where Cong will welcome the Rás Tailteann cyclists. After setting off from Cong, the riders will take in breath-taking scenery along the Wild Atlantic Way before the stage ends in Miltown Malbay in Co Clare. The penultimate stage will kick off from Ennis, Co Clare and take on two category three climbs before crossing the category one Wolftrap climb with less than 15kms remaining. Stage four will end in Mountrath in Co Laois. Stage five of the 2025 Rás Tailteann: Kildare Town to Bective The fifth and final stage on Sunday, May 25 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. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 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.
