This article is the fifth in a series which will be published daily throughout the 2013 edition of the Rás. I’ve taken the finish town of each day’s stage and looked back through the history books to a time when the Rás previously raced into the same town. Other stage towns in the series are:

Longford – 1962
Nenagh – 1958
Listowel – 1993
Healy Pass – 1984

Today it’s Carlow in 1976…

The Stage

1976 Rás Tailteann – 18th June – Stage 7 – Mitchelstown, Cahir, Clonmel, Callan, Kilkenny, Paulstown, Leighlinbridge, Carlow (135km)

What was going on in Irish cycling?

Sean Kelly, Pat McQuaid and his brother Kieron were all handed seven month bans by the Irish cycling federation. The trio, along with two Scotsmen, travelled incognito to South Africa to take part in the Rapport Tour. At the time, due to Apartheid, there were various sporting bans being placed on South Africa. Taking part in a cycling race in South Africa was prohibited. But the five riders assumed fake names and took part anyway, seeing the race as an ideal way to get in some extra racing miles over the winter. ~ Continue reading ~

This article is the fourth in a series which will be published daily throughout the 2013 edition of the Rás. I’ve taken the finish town of each day’s stage and looked back through the history books to a time when the Rás previously raced into the same town. Other stage towns in the series are:

Longford – 1962
Nenagh – 1958
Listowel – 1993
Carlow – 1976

Today it’s the Healy Pass in 1984…

The Stage

1984 Rás Tailteann – 27th June- Stage 5b – Healy Pass – Individual Mountain Time Trial (6.5 km)

What was going on in Irish cycling?

Although 22-year old Paul Kimmage had been racing in France with the ACBB team, he returned home to win the national road race title. Kimmage had previously been successful in 1981 and he regained the title in a 99-mile race which consisted of nine laps around Carrick-On-Suir. ~ Continue reading ~

This article is the third in a series which will be published daily throughout the 2013 edition of the Rás. I’ve taken the finish town of each day’s stage and looked back through the history books to a time when the Rás previously raced into the same town. Other stage towns in the series are:

Longford – 1962
Nenagh – 1958
Healy Pass – 1984
Carlow – 1976

Today it’s Listowel in 1993…

The Stage

1993 Rás Tailteann – 12th May- Stage 5 – Nenagh, Dolla, Kilcommon, Rear Cross, Newport, Limerick, Mungret, Foynes, Tarbert, Listowel. (140km)

What was going on in Irish cycling?

The Nissan International Classic had been organised every year since 1985, but what was effectively the Tour of Ireland did not go ahead in 1993. The race, organised by Alan Rushton and current UCI President Pat McQuaid, could not find a replacement sponsor after Nissan had pulled out and the race was cancelled. ~ Continue reading ~

This article is the second in a series which will be published daily throughout the 2013 edition of the Rás. I’ve taken the finish town of each day’s stage and looked back through the history books to a time when the Rás previously raced into the same town. Other stage towns in the series are:

Longford – 1962
Listowel – 1993
Healy Pass – 1984
Carlow – 1976

Today it’s Nenagh in 1958…

The Stage

1958 Rás Tailteann – 7th August – Stage 5 – Tralee, Castleisland, Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West, Drumcolliher, Rathluirc, Croom, Limerick, Nenagh (161km)

What was going on in Irish cycling?

Gene Mangan won the fourth national championships of his career by taking the 25 mile time trial title which has held around Balbriggan in a time of 60 minutes and five seconds.

Cathal O’Reilly from the Tailteann racing club won the NCA 50 mile national road race championships in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. He was part of a 13-man move which broke clear with 10 miles to go. Running out of road and with the bunch reeling them in, two riders of the original 13 just managed to hang on to a slim lead as O’Reilly beat Tom Ryan to take the victory. Mangan was credited with joint third. ~ Continue reading ~

This article is the first in a series which will be published daily throughout the 2013 edition of the Rás. I’ve taken the finish town of each day’s stage and looked back through the history books to a time when the Rás previously raced into the same town. Other stage towns in the series are:

Nenagh – 1958
Listowel – 1993
Healy Pass – 1984
Carlow – 1976

Today it’s Longford in 1962…

The Stage

1962 Rás Tailteann – 5th August – Stage 1 – Dublin, Lucan, Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock, Enfield, Mullingar, Edgeworthstown, Longford (122km)

What was going on in Irish cycling?

In February a landmark meeting took place where all three of Ireland’s cycling associations sat down together for the first time. The NICF (Northern Ireland Cycling Federation – officially sanctioned by the UCI), the CRE (Cumann Rothaiochta na hEireann – representing the Republic of Ireland and also officially sanctioned by the UCI) and the NCA (National Cycling Association – representing the entire island of Ireland and not sanctioned by the UCI). ~ Continue reading ~