The 70th edition of Rás Tailteann will be pedalling through Mayo
The 70th edition of the famed Rás Tailteann cycle will take place from May 21 to 25, and there will be a visit to Mayo on this year's route.
The event will start in the cycling stronghold of Drogheda, Co. Louth on Wednesday, May 21, heading westwards to finish in Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
Cyclists will transfer to Charlestown, Co. Mayo, for the start of Stage 2, where the riders will take on the infamous Windy Gap and Maumtrasna climbs in the longest of the 2025 Rás Tailteann stages.
There will be another transfer to Mayo for the start of Stage 3, where Cong will welcome the Rás Tailteann. After setting off from Cong, the riders will take in breathtaking scenery along the Wild Atlantic Way before they face the fast finish towards Miltown Malbay in Co. Clare.
The penultimate stage will kick off from Ennis, Co. Clare, and take on two category three climbs before crossing the category one Wolftrap climb with less than 15k remaining. Will there be enough time to regroup before the finish in Mountrath, Co. Laois?
The final stage of Rás Tailteann 2025 will kick off in Kildare town, heading across the plains of the Lilywhite county before entering Co. Meath, where the winner of Rás Tailteann will be crowned in Bective.
The 2025 edition of the race is again five stages and will take on more than 760km along the roads of Ireland, including 13 categorised climbs.
Ahead of the route launch, race director Ger Campbell said: “We are really excited to release the route for the 70th edition of Rás Tailteann. I am super proud of the event we managed to get back on the road in 2022 and have grown from strength to strength each year since. Being able to start the 70th edition of the race in my hometown is very special to me. It is also great to return to some traditional cycling strongholds along the way.”
Starting off in Charlestown on Thursday, May 22, Stage 2 will continue through Bohola, Castlebar, Ballyheane, Partry and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh before crossing the Mayo/Galway border and continuing into An Mám before finishing in Clifden. This will be the first stage end in Clifden since 2003.
An extremely tough day, the riders will face five categorised climbs along the route. It's sure to be a testing and telling day in the race for overall honours.
The following day (Friday, May 23), Stage 3 will set off from the famous Celtic Cross in the centre of the beautiful village of Cong before quickly leaving Mayo, passing through Headford, Corofin, Kinvara, Bell Harbour, Ballyvaughan, Lisdoonvarna, Liscannor and Lahinch to a finish in Miltown Malbay. Another tough day in the saddle is guaranteed.