Organisers pull the plug on Rás

IRELAND’s biggest cycling race, Rás Tailteann which dates back to 1953, will not be staged this year as organisers have been unable to secure a major sponsor for the event after losing An Post. ‘We have exhausted all opportunities in relation to sponsorship,’ said race director Eimear Dignam. ‘I am extremely disappointed. We never envisaged it would come to an end like this.’