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2001 Results Stages Preview Start list Past winners
By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent
Race organiser Dermot Dignam intends making the fiftieth edition of the Ras which has the support of the National Dairy Council and FBD Insurances something to remember for supporters and competitors. Included in the climbing stakes are the Healy Pass, Luggala, Devils Glen, Coomakista Pass and Wicklow Gap which will be part of the 8 Day International Cycle Race, which takes place from May 19-26.
The route has now been finalised, and is an anti-clockwise course around the country. The top class field of international riders from at least 10 countries will cover almost 1200 kilometres of mountain climbs, breathtaking descents, Hot Spot Sprints and long, gruelling roads, all culminating in thrilling stage finishes in Ballinamore, Nenagh, Killorglin, Castletownbere, Midleton, Arklow, Baltinglass with the finish in Dublin city on the last Sunday in May.
A total of 25 major mountain climbs will be encountered, including premier category ascents of Kerry's Coomakista Pass, the spectacular Healy Pass straddling the Kerry Cork border and Wicklow's Luggala, Drumgoff, Devils Glen and Wicklow Gap.
Three stages will be in excess of 160 km each: Stage 2, 164 km of long energy-sapping roads through the midlands from Ballinamore to Nenagh; Stage 4 will bring the riders 170 km from Killorglin around the Ring of Kerry through Kenmare to Castletownbere. Along the way the riders will tackle seven mountain climbs including 2 premier categories, Coomakista Pass and, with 150 km in their legs, the Healy Pass. The following day's racing will bring the riders 170 km from the Beara Peninsula through Cork for the finish in Midleton.
A transfer from Midleton on Friday morning for a Dungavan start to 156 km of fast open racing through Waterford, New Ross and Gorey for a sprinter's dream finish in the seaside town of Arklow.
Baltinglass, however, will be challenging strongly for the honour of being the town where the toughest and most decisive stage of the race will finish. After 154 kilometres of torturous mountain climbing, including four premier category climbs at Devils Glen, Luggala, Drumgoff and the Wicklow Gap, and three Category 2 climbs, Sally Gap, Ballygannon Hill and Lugnagroagh, the race will finish in the town for the first time ever and the townspeople could see the winner of the stage receive the decisive Yellow Jersey of the 2002 FBD Milk Ras.
FBD Insurance and the National Dairy Council once again, for the twentieth year, combine to sponsor the race, and their financial backing along with the support of the Irish Sports Council makes this popular national, and international, event possible. The race is again on the International Calendar, making it eligible for the awarding of qualification points for Olympic Games and World Cycling Championships.
TBA
2001 Paul Manning (GBr) Great Britain 2000 Julian Winn (GBr) Wales
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