On Your Bike! An Post Rás na mBan Kicks off this Week in County Clare

The scenic roads of Co. Clare are used to hosting visitors keen to enjoy the majestic coastal views and unique landscape. This week, however, those roads will witness a group of visitors with other things on their minds.

The An Post Rás na mBan is Ireland’s premier cycle race for women and the 2014 edition is about to hit the roads of the Banner County. Comprising of six tough stages, spread over five days from 10th to the 14th of September, the An Post Rás na mBan will pit some of the top women cyclists in the world against the very best Ireland has to offer.

Three-time winner and defending champion Olivia Dillon will lead a strong Team Ireland against an international field of 20 teams from 14 countries including the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. Taking them on will be the very best domestic riders from throughout Ireland.

US-based Dillon relishes the opportunity to shine on home soil. “To have a race in Ireland of that quality is kind of special. Last year my family was able to come out and watch most of the stages. I race in the US all year long and (it) means a lot to me that they're able to see me race.”​

Dillon has prepared for her title defence by racing one of the most competitive and hilliest stage races in Europe, the Tour de l’Ardeche in France. And she’ll need to be on top form because she’ll be vying with some of the worlds top riders for the An Post Pink Jersey of race winner. Former US under-23 Champion Tayler Wiles, her compatriot Katie Donovan, former French Champion Coralie Demay and promising young Briton Laura Massey are all contenders, but don’t rule out some of the Irish contingent, led by Munster’s Fiona Meade and Team Ireland’s Michelle Geoghegan, for stage or overall honours.

Stage one takes the riders from race headquarters at the Inn at Dromoland on a 61km loop to a likely hectic sprint finish in Ennis, and includes the first climb to count towards the IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains competition at The Maghera.

Stage two is the “Wild Atlantic Way” stage, at 112km the longest of the race, tracing the spectacularly rugged coastline from Loop Head to the finish in Ballyvaughan. Competitors will have little time to admire the sea views though with the gruelling climb to the Cliffs of Moher coming after 75km.

Day three of the race is split into two stages. First up is an 8km Individual Time Trial against the clock from the village of Barefield and back. It might be the shortest stage of the race but could be very influential in opening time gaps. Later comes a fast, furious circuit race over ten 4km laps in Ballyalla. The speed merchants will be chasing a win on this stage while the overall contenders try to stay out of trouble.​

Saturday is the big one. Stage five is the aptly named “Beast of the Burren”, starting and finishing in beautiful Ballyvaughan and covering 105km of the most demanding terrain in the county, includes 3 Queen of the Mountains climbs, the biggest coming after 83km at Doonagore Castle.

Stage six is the final showdown over 88km in southwest Clare, from the Inn at Dromoland to Ennis where the winners of all of the overall classifications will be decided. Full details of all stages can be found at http://www.rasnamban.com/2014-route

Come out and cheer on these amazing athletes as they battle for the title of An Post Rás na mBan Champion 2014.

If you can’t make it to Co. Clare, Her.ie will be updating you from the race on these very pages, with the help of Ronan Fox, a Race Official with An Post Rás na mBan. He is always with the race leaders and is best placed to report on the top action of the day! You can also follow the action on Facebook or Twitter.