Ireland’s premier men’s stage race gets underway on Wednesday, May 21st with stage one starting from Drogheda, Co. Louth and finishing in Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
A transfer to Charlestown for the start of stage two where the riders will take on the infamous Windy Gap and Maumtrasna climbs in the longest of the 2025 Rás Tailteann stages.
Another transfer to Co. Mayo for the start of stage three, where Cong will welcome the Rás Tailteann. After setting off from Cong, the riders will take in breathtaking scenery along the Wild Atlantic Way before they face the fast finish towards Miltown Malbay in County Clare.
The penultimate stage will kick off from Ennis, Co Clare and take on 2 x category three climb’s before crossing the category one Wolftrap climb with less than 15kms remaining before the finish in Mountrath, Co. Laois.
The final stage will kick off in Kildare Town, before heading back to Meath, where the 2025 winner will be crowned in Bective.
The race will take in 760km over the five days and see riders tackle 13 categorised climbs.
183 riders will take on this year’s Rás, with established domestic teams going up against teams from all over the world. The inclusion of a Team GB, along with teams from Germany, Mexico and the United States highlights the significance of Rás Tailteann to the entire cycling community.
Ireland will be represented by a team of five, with a late change as Sam Coleman is replaced by Willem O’Connor. Along with Velo Performance rider O’Connor, the Irish team will feature recently crowned National Criterium champion Dean Harvey, Ruairi Byrne, Con Scully and Jamie Meehan.
Last year’s winner Dom Jackson will be back with his team Foran CT and will no doubt be looking to replicate last year’s performance.
Skyline-Cadence, based in the United States but boasting several top Irish riders will make the trip, with Cian Keogh coming into the race off the back of several strong performances domestically and abroad already this year.
Former Rás winner Daire Feeley will be back for the 2025 edition, the 2024 National Series champion this year riding for Burren CC.
Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli will make the trip across the Irish sea again this year, as recent Rás Mumhan winner Tom Martin is back in yellow having ridden as a guest for Spellman Dublin Port in Munster.
A full list of teams and their riders is available HERE.
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