2018 Ras Tailteann to start in Drogheda
THE 2018 Ras Tailteann will start in Drogheda. The announcement will be made officially next week.
The riders will gather by the Boyneside and then perform a ceremonial start through West Street before heading off to the first stage.
The Ras has previously had a penultimate stage finish in the town while there was also a stage finish in a very wet Ardee last year.
The race begins on May 20 and runs for eight days.
Formally the An Post Ras, the organisers are still seeking a main sponsor or sponsors for the event after the postal company ended its association last year.
The race has played a huge part in the Irish sporting world since its inception in 1953. It is the biggest cycling occasion in Ireland and having the glamour of staging the start will be a big boost to the sport locally.
It is a world-ranked event on the cycling calendar and riders and teams come from many different countries. Irish stars like Stephen Roche and Tony Martin have come through the ranks of it. Work on the logistics and organisation has been ongoing for months.