Mayo ready for return of the Rás

Mayo ready for RΡs return


Preview
Martin Ayres

IRELAND’S oldest and most prestigious cycle race, An Post RΡs, starts in Co Meath on Sunday and will arrive in Westport on Tuesday, May 22. Now in its 60th year, the RΡs has grown into a world-class event, attracting teams from ten European nations, plus New Zealand, Morocco, and Taiwan. Last year’s winner, Gediminas Bagdonas of Lithuania will defend his title at the head of the An Post SeΡn Kelly team.
County teams make up half the 180-man field with Mayo fielding two five-man squads. They face 1,170 kilometres of gruelling racing in eight stages before reaching the finish line in Skerries on May 27. 
The Mayo-Castlebar and Mayo-Centra teams will be on familiar ground on Tuesday’s stage from Gort to Westport.
They will encounter the first major climb of this year’s race shortly after crossing from Galway into Mayo, where the road rears up from Lough Nafooey to Maumtrasna. The gradient could split the field, who will already have 100 kilometres in their legs.
Then on it’s a 45-kilometre dash to Westport, taking in Tourmakeady and Killawalla and entering Westport via the Ballinrobe road. Local knowledge will come into play as the peloton takes the tricky turn under the railway bridge and left again to finish in Mill Street.
Westport’s Ray Staunton, assistant manager of the Centra team, called on local fans to cheer on the Mayo teams. “Please get out onto the roads to give them a shout, it’s amazing what a difference it makes,” he said
Immediately after the finish, presentations will be made in Mill Street to the stage winner and the race leader will receive the yellow jersey.
Stage four will start in Bridge Street at 11am on Wednesday and will make a ceremonial lap of the town,  before the race proper starts on the N5.  The route will then take in Castlebar and Charlestown en route to the finish in Bundoran.

PRENDERGAST BACK TRAINING
CHARLES Prendergast’s dream of riding the RΡs seemed to be dashed when he underwent surgery for a strangulated hernia in mid-April.
However, the Louisburgh international is back in training and is optimistic about his chances of making his RΡs debut. “It’s coming along nicely and I’m hoping to be on the start line next Sunday,” he said.
Prendergast, who will be riding for the UCD team said: “I’ve lost several weeks of training but I’ll use the RΡs to prepare for events later in the season.”

LOCAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS
THERE will be parking restrictions in Mill Street on Tuesday morning, May 22, and the road will be closed to traffic approximately 20 minutes before the race arrival, which is scheduled between 2pm and 3.30pm, depending on race speed.

BUSINESS BOOST FOR WESTPORT
THE arrival of the An Post RΡs will involve an estimated 600 people staying overnight in Westport.
“It’s great business for Westport and gives great profile to the town,” said Darren Madden of the Clew Bay Hotel, which will house the organisers, Gardaí and officials.  Catering for the dietary needs of 180 sportsmen poses no problems for local hotels. “The town is keyed into the needs of athletes thanks to experience with events like Gaelforce,” he added.

ARRIVAL TIMES
PROJECTED arrival times are: Maumtrasna, 13.10; Tourmakeady 13.27; Killawalla 13.45; Westport 14.00. Times are based on the fastest (tailwind) estimate.

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