| Record Entry for Ireland’s Top Women’s Stage Race By Declan Quigley, Race PR. Sep 6, 2010, | |
The race, supported by Sneem Hotel for the third year in a row, has attracted top international squads from the Netherlands, Germany, Serbia and the UK as well as an Irish national squad and a raft of club teams set to do battle on some of the most beautiful and challenging roads in Ireland.
Since the race moved to the Ring of Kerry three years ago it has gone from strength to strength and the growing status of the event is reflected in a 40% increase in rider numbers since last year with more than 80 riders expected on the start line in Sneem in two weeks time.
Irish national champion Olivia Dillon returns from the US where she is a fixture on the vibrant women’s racing scene to lead the Irish team against the quality opposition from across Europe.
Two teams from Holland, six teams from the UK and squads from Germany and Serbia will join the local teams which for the first time include provincial selections from Cycling Ulster, Leinster and Connacht.
The Dutch Moving Ladies squad which secured overall victory last year with England’s Emma Trott are back to defend their title with a crack selection of five top Dutch racers. Kerry’s own international star Michelle Geoghegan races with Moving Ladies on the continent but Michelle has been selected on the Ireland team for this year’s Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan.
However, Michelle is in a race against time to be fit for the event after dislocating her collarbone in a crash in Holland three weeks ago.
The racing gets under way on Friday evening with stage one of the Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan, a 60km route from Sneem to Kenmare and back to Sneem including an ascent of Molls Gap.
Stage two on Saturday morning is a 5km time trial in Sneem which will be followed in the afternoon by an 80km road stage on a 15km circuit finishing in the village.
The final stage on Sunday is the longest of the race, a 90km slog that will decide the destination of the Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan title for 2010.
The Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan is a festival of cycle racing throughout the weekend that also includes Youth Racing organized by Sneem Cycling Club.
Event organiser Valerie Considine believes that this year’s Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan is set to be best ever.
“These are great days for women’s cycling and it’s great to be able to showcase the sport with a top international race in such a fabulous setting,” says Considine. “The race has attracted a record entry this year reflecting the growth in the sport and with the continued generous support of Louis Moriarty and Sneem Hotel we’re looking forward to a great weekend of racing.
“The international riders are sure to be very strong on the beautiful and testing roads of the Ring of Kerry but with record numbers participating in the sport at local level we believe that the riders are coming through that can put it up to them.”
Louis Moriarty of race sponsors Sneem Hotel is looking forward to another top weekend of race action in Sneem.
“It’s been wonderful to be associated with a top sporting event for the past three years and I’m proud to have been associated with the development of the event which continues to go from strength to strength.
“This year’s race is set to be another wonderful event and we’ll be looking forward to providing a real red carpet welcome for all the cyclists on September 17th.”
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Full Route Details:
Friday, 17th September: Stage 1, Road Race, 60km – Sneem – Kenmare – Sneem , http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/ireland/kerry/928113846
Saturday, 18th September: Stage 2 – 5km TT
Saturday, 18th September: Stage 3, Road Race, 80km – Sneem – Tahilla – Killarney – Sneem, http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/ireland/sneem/227334107
Sunday, 19th September: Stage 4, Road Race, 90km http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/ireland/kerry/232236948
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