This year the KERRY GROUP RAS MUMHAN 4 Day International Cycle Race will “Dance” Around the roads of Kerry from Good Friday to Easter Monday. With KERRY GROUP as the Main sponsors the race organizers have secured additional sponsorship for the 4 stages. The total distance for the 4 days is 491km, with 27 categorized climbs.
Stage 1.Good Friday April 22nd. “The Slide through Sliabh Luachra” sponsored by KILLORGLIN & CAHIRSIVEEN CREDIT UNIONS. This is the first visit to the East Kerry area steeped in Irish Music and Dance. The Ras will start at 4pm in Killorglin and after 105km and 3 climbs, taking the riders to Killarney, on to Kilcummin, Gneeveguilla, Scartaglin, Castleisland, Firies, Milltown and back To finish in Killorglin around 6.30pm.
Stage 2. Easter Saturday April 23rd. The “Dance around Dingle”( “Damhsa an Daingean”) sponsored by FITZGERALDS CENTRA-HOMEVALUE Stores in Dingle.. The Fitzgerald family’s association with cycling goes back many years To Paudie winning the Ras Tailteann in 1956 and his son Domnick who rode the Ras twice in the Early 90’s, is involved as stage end organizer. This will be a big day for cycling in West Kerry. The 130 km stage, which will include 4 climbs will start at 12 noon in Dingle and after a trip that crosses Slea Head , back through the town and onto Lispole , Annascaul and Camp before facing up to finish on top of Conor Pass, the only Category 1 Climb of the entire race. A new dimension to the event will be the Inaugural “ Etape Ras Mumhan”. This non-competitive event is for the Leisure and Sportive riders and will give them the first ever opportunity in Ireland to ride a classic stage of a major race . Full details of this event are available at www.etaperasmumhan.ie .
Stage 3. Easter Sunday April 24th. “ The Waltz around Waterville” is sponsored by the WATERVILLE CHILDRENS FESTIVAL, (w/e July 1st to 3rd). The stage has a 12 noon start in the South Kerry Town made famous by Charlie Chaplin, , Mick O Dwyer and others and the leading riders are expected at the finish in Waterville at 3.40pm. The 142km route is the same as last year, taking in St. Finians Bay twice, Cahirsiveen, Valentia Island, and 6 climbs along the way. This is home ground to the another Kerry Cycling great “The Iron Man” Mick Murphy winner of the Ras Tailteann in 1958.
Stage 4. Easter Monday April 25th. “The Puck Fair Polka will have a 10 am start for the 114km stage, Which is sponsored by FEXCO who have been with the race by many years now. This stage is also the same as last year. After 2 laps of the Killorglin, Fossa, Milltown circuit the riders will go on to the Donal McKenna circuit for 10 laps ,which will take them up the famous Hill in the town centre each Time. There is a cat 4 climb at the line each time which will keep the KOM title up for grabs right to the finish.
There are other sponsors associated with the race including:
DMC Sports/SMA Santini Jersies
Melina Joy & Urban Optics Killarney Oakley Performance Eyeware
Cycling Ireland
Cycling Munster
The Irish Sports Council
Billy O Shea , Auctioneer & Publican Killorglin
Owens McCarthy Claims Specialists, Killorglin
Pauline Sugrue, Auctioneer Waterville
Vincent Sugrue Waterville
Gerard Sugrue , Painting & Decorating Waterville.
Waterville House
Merrion Group Dublin.
All these sponsors play their part in supporting this big race, which is now firmly established As the one of the top races in Ireland.