RÁS TAILTEANN 2020 PLANS SHELVED OVER HEALTH CONCERNS

THE most recent statement from Cáirde Rás Tailteann has put the staging of the 2020 event beyond doubt and speculation, and it has now moved it into the 2021 cycling calendar.

Castleisland, in common with all the towns on the Rás 2020 map, loses its afternoon stage end and morning restart which were originally planned for June 11 and 12.

Castleisland’s proposed involvement with the five-day Rás Tailteann 2020 centred around the stage-two finish and the start of stage three.

Stage one on Wednesday, June 10, was to be from Dublin to Horse and Jockey – a distance of 140.1 kilometres.

Stage two on Thursday, June 11 was from Horse and Jockey to Castleisland, a trip of 154.8 kilometres.

Stage three on Friday, June 12, was to be from Castleisland to Lisdoonvarna, a total of 173.8 kilometres. Thereafter, stage four on Saturday, June 13, was from Lisdoonvarna to Kilbeggan along a 154.1 kilometre route.

Stage five on Sunday, June 14, was to be from Kinnegad to Blackrock in County Louth and would have taken the riders on a 135.3 kilometres trip to the finishing line of the 2020 event.

Former Rás cyclist and now race director Eugene Moriarty said that Cáirde Rás Tailteann has expended significant energy to try and safely put An Rás Tailteann on the road in September/October 2020.

“The group has monitored the evolving situation daily and digested publicly available road-maps, health guidance, sporting and, crucially, Rás volunteer stakeholder input,” he said.

“Cáirde Rás Tailteann has decided to definitively postpone the 2020 Rás Tailteann, which was originally due to return to the roads of Ireland last month, until 2021,” said the Listowel native.

“Notwithstanding quicker relaxation of restrictions than anticipated, the opportunity to safely put the race back on the roads around Ireland before the end of the 2020 road cycling season has contracted rapidly on us.

“Cognisant of the related planning and especially the lingering public-health concerns, it was unanimously agreed that the safest, healthiest and most prudent course of action at this time would be to postpone running the 2020 event until 2021,” said Mr Moriarty.

“The group shares the disappointment that circumstances beyond anyone’s control conspired to prevent the Rás happening this year, but the health, well-being and safety of all our volunteers and athletes, as well as the general public, continue to remain our primary concern.

“The good news is that the plan is for the Rás to return in 2021.

“The group will now take a well-earned break for a few weeks into August, when planning and arrangements will get underway for the 2021 edition.

“Cáirde Rás Tailteann would like to thank everyone for the continued large volume of messages of support and well wishes received to date.

“We would also like to thank the following for their continued unwavering support: Cycling Ireland, Sport Ireland, Rás volunteers and supporters, Cumann Rás Tailteann, the media, the public, Rás stage-end organisers, county councils, stage end accommodation providers, health experts and An Garda Síochána.”

Former Rás cyclist and now Rás Tailteann race director Eugene Moriarty from Listowel said his group had considered all options and risks to public health in their decision.