Rás Tailteann Bike Race to enter Cavan
145 cyclists crossing the south part of the county from midday during first stage
The 70th edition of the Rás Tailteann bike race will take place from May 21-25, with its first stage lacing through a number of Cavan towns. Riders will enter Cavan after 55.8km of racing, with the peloton expected to pass through Mountnugent at approximately 13:15, Kilnaleck at 13:25, Ballinagh at 13:35, Crossdoney at 13:40, and Arvagh at 13:55 – all subject to race conditions.
Race Director Gearóid Campbell is looking forward to it: “This is a very special event, and we hope that 2025 is a chance for everyone who has any connection with the event to come out and see the ‘Men of the Rás’.”
This year’s Rás features a field of 145 riders representing 29 teams, with competitors travelling from the UK, USA, Germany, Isle of Man, Mexico, and all across Ireland.
The first stage will pass through the rolling roads of North Meath, Cavan and Leitrim before a fast finish into Boyle, Co Roscommon. “With just one category 3 climb on route at ‘Sliabh na Cailligh’ just before Oldcastle, a large group of riders could very well still be together to battle it out in Boyle for the first stage win of 2025.”
Local interest will be especially high this year with Luke Smith, riding for Team Moynalty, among the competitors. The Kingscourt native is a “strong rider and definitely one to watch as the race progresses through his home county,” predicts Campbell .
As per previous editions, there will be three hot spot sprints along the way during stage one which provide pivotal bonus seconds. They will be in Gibbstown Gaeltacht just after 20KM, Crossdoney just after 80KM and Mohill just after 120KM.
One of the many volunteers who will help out at the side of the roads is Paul McLoughlin from Newtownbutler. He straight away offered to marshal on the day of the event. “Of course I was going to support the cycling community,” says Paul, an ardent member of the cycling club Breffni Wheelers.
“We’re always made to feel very welcome in Cavan” commended Race Director Campbell. “The support from the local community is phenomenal, and we’re hugely grateful to Ned Reilly for his generous sponsorship of four primes in Cavan on this stage.”
“We all think we are like them, but we really wish more we were like them”, says volunteer Paul of the pace at which these elite cyclists can climb the hills or push through the towns. “They’re here and the next thing they’re gone.” Like his teammate Paul, Breffni Wheelers chairperson Dan O'Connor has cycled etappes of this route and knows “the hills around Arva and Gowna can be very challenging for amateurs”.
While watching the professional athletes in their race, the Cavan cyclists will be thinking of their own ongoing competition. The Cavan Interclub League begins on Thursday, May 15 in Butlersbridge at 7pm. Every Thursday evening for six weeks each of the clubs DB Cycling Club, Breffni Wheelers Cycling Club, Virginia Triathlon & Cycling Club, Smugglers Cycling Club, The CavanKayakarun and Lakeland Cycle Club are hosting a stage of the League with the final DB Scratch Race on June 25.
Paul has been carrying the cycling bug for years and is out every weekend. “It’s like an alarm in the morning, you’re up right away to go.”
Currently, club members are tracking landmarks along their routes like forlorn milestones or remains of watermills on the side of the road: “So much hidden history you wouldn’t come across in your car.”
Dan is a big fan of the greenways that have been built in recent years, and he hopes there will be one in Cavan soon, simply because they are safe to traverse on.
For Dan cycling is not only being active in “fantastic scenery”, it is the social aspect that makes this sport so dear to him: “You’re chatting all the time.” Some weekends they could complete two 80km routes starting from Cavan town. No bother to them, said Dan. “As long as there is a good coffee spot at the end with a guilt-free cake.”