Race Report
Race Report from Heather Boyle - www.womenscycling.ie

Ireland's newest and hardiest stage race! Entry List

With the FBD Insurance Ras having just passed through the Irish countryside, and Letterkenny rider Philip Deignan competing professionally in the Tour of Italy, cycling is in the news and it is now the turn of the Ras Dhun na nGall cycle race to take to the roads around Killybegs over the bank holiday weekend. Sponsored by the Bay View Hotel and various other local businesses, this exciting and colorful event will see 130 of the country's best young riders take on some of Ireland's most difficult cycling terrain. The race has always been an important stepping stone for riders with ambitions of going to the highest levels of the sport, and several of our previous competitors have gone on to win big races in Ireland, Britain and Europe. Mark Scanlon from Sligo, who won the race in 1998, went on to win the Under- 18 World Championship in Holland a couple of months later, while Letterkenny rider Philip Deignan,, was a member of the Ireland Under- 18 team that took part in 2001. The last two winners of the race, Isaac Speirs from Navan and the Norwegian Wold Svein, both went on to compete successfully in last year's professional Tour of Ireland. The 2008 Ras Dhun na nGall takes to the roads this coming Friday evening, leaving Killybegs and heading through Carrick and Glencolmcille, and returning to Killybegs via Meenaneary and Carrick again. This stage will take the riders through some of the most spectacular scenery that the county has to offer, although the riders themselves will be more concerned about the large number of small but steep hills that they will encounter, not to mention the long climb out of Glencolmcille towards Meenaneary. Last year it was here that the move went away that eventually decided the race. Saturday morning sees the riders in a time- trial between Bruckless and Killybegs, which while short, will see maximum effort from each rider as time lost or gained here may prove to be critical to the overall result of the race. Each rider starts on his own and will ride at speeds of between 25 and 30 mph towards Killybegs, and the fastest riders will cover the distance in around six and a half minutes. After a short recovery period, the riders leave Killybegs again in the afternoon on a 54-mile stage that takes them through Bruckless, Dunkineely, Ardaghey, Kilraine, Ardara, Clooney, Glenties and Ardara again before heading back to Killybegs via the Nick. The final stage, at lunchtime on Sunday, is by far the most difficult as the riders race through Ardara, Glenties, Clooney and Ardara again before tackling the famous Glengesh Pass and on through Meenaneary and Carrick to finish in Killybegs. Glengesh is known throughout Irish cycling circles as being one of the most difficult climbs in the country, spectator- friendly but much less so for the cyclists themselves at the end of three hard days of racing. While the overall winner will take the plaudits on Sunday evening in Killybegs, all the riders will be content in the knowledge that they will have just completed one of the hardest stages in Irish cycling. The racing will be hard and fast for the entire weekend, and while some traffic delays may take place in the south west of the county over the weekend, the public has always been hugely supportive of the race, and the riders appreciate the courtesy and appreciation shown to them by all along the route.

Weather Set to be fabulous for weekend. Check it out here

Approximate time schedules:

Friday 30th May:

Stage 1 Depart Killybegs: 7.30pm Carrick: 8.01 Glencolmcille: 8.17 Meenaneary: 8.30 Carrick: 8.40 Arrive Killybegs 9.09pm

Saturday 31st May:

Stage 2 First rider starts Bruckless: 9.00am Last rider finishes Killybegs: 11.10am

Stage 3: Depart Killybegs: 2.30pm Bruckless: 2.44 Dunkineely: 2.49 Ardaghey: 2.58 Ardara: 3.36 Clooney: 3.54 Glenties: 4.10 Ardara: 4.26 Finish Killybegs: 4.

Sunday 1st June:

Stage 4 Depart Killybegs: 12.30pm Ardara: 12.59 Glenties: 1.15 Clooney: 1.32 Ardara: 1.48 Glengesh: 2.00 Meenaneary: 2.17 Carrick: 2.26: Finish Killybegs: 2.55pm

Footage from the 2006 Rás Dhun na nGall

The Four Masters Cycling Club wish to thank the following without whom the race would not be possible

Killybegs & District Chamber of commerce
Bayview Hotel
Allan Curran Architects
Castle Cycles
Liffey Distrubutors (Jonsered)
Eamonn Tinney & Sons
Bizzcards Irl Ltd
National Irish Bank
Friends First Finance
Foyle Driving School
Letterkenny 4X4 & Commercial
Swift Signs
Komandor Donegal
Tony Kelly Cars
Jim Owen Motors
Murray Motors
C & M Embroidery
Ck Locksmiths
AB Sports
DMC Sports
Donegal Steel
The Dealer
Cycling Ireland Officals
Cycling Ulster
Motorbike Marshalls
Stationary Marshalls
Red Cross
An Gardai

and everyone who is willing to give up their weekend to make this event what it is.