Rathmore will be the starting point for the second stage of this year’s Rás Tailteann on Thursday May 21st.
The cyclists will travel through Kenmare on the same day before continuing through the Tunnel Road / Caha Pass, Glengarriff and the Gougane Gap before finishing in Banteer.
The 71st Rás covers 785 kilometres along the roads of Ireland, including 21 categorised climbs, beginning on May 20th in Portlaoise with the first stage ending in Kilmallock, Co Limerick.
Stage three is from Mitchelstown to Enniscorthy, Stage four goes from Carlow through the Wicklow Mountains and finishing in Baltinglass.
The final stage will again start in Carlow, before crossing the plains of Carlow and Kildare, including the Category 3 Hill of Allen, and finishing in Dunboyne, Co Meath.
The conclusion will see three laps of a testing finishing circuit to decide both the stage winner and the overall champion of Rás Tailteann 2026.
