All will be decided on Stage 4:
I will make one prediction for the 2019 Kerry Group Ras Mumhan which is once again we will not know the winner until the riders cross the finish line after Stage 4.
By then they will have covered 500km of our tough Kerry roads and all eyes will turn to the officials for the announcement of who will take home the Donal McKenna Cup this year.
Unless we see something different from other years the lead can change on the laps of the Donal McKenna Circuit and the team of the yellow jersey holder will have to be very strong to watch all these moves.
The riders will first tackle 3 laps of the 25km Killorglin, Beaufort loop where there are a number of great locations to watch the race including Beaufort village and Beaufort Bridge.
As the riders complete the third loop thoughts will turn to the Prime put up by the Killorglin Cycling Club for the first rider into the town.
And then it’s onto the Donal McKenna Circuit and if ever a route was made for a cycle race it is this 4 lap circuit that draws huge crowds to Killorglin to see the riders come up the hill 11 times.
There is one change of note for the riders this year as those that are 3.30 down on the leaders will be withdrawn from the circuit and will be credited with a finishing time appropriate to the lap they are removed on. This is being done to facilitate the ease of movement of traffic and to contribute to race safety.
But the real attention will be at the front of the race and while the overall winner will be crowned the stage winner will lift the Paddy O’Callaghan Memorial Cup. This was donated to the Kerry Group Ras Mumhan by the legendary Gene Mangan.
The presentations will be done on the Stage this year and one thing is for sure whoever gets those coveted jerseys on their shoulders at the end of the 4 days of the Kerry Group Ras Mumhan will deserve them.