THE AN POST Rás, formerly known as the FBD Insurance Rás and Rás Tailteann, is a race steeped in history and famed for its grueling nature.
Fought out over eight days, it pits full-time riders against amateur ‘county’ riders. The latter very rarely win stages or threaten the overall and for many, it’s a battle for survival.
On Sunday, the race begins in Dunboyne and finishes in Skerries on Sunday week, but not before passing through many towns and villages throughout the country beforehand.
Here, we have canvassed some of the top riders past and present for what they recall from the first time they ever rode it.
Colm Bracken (debut – 1985)
“From being a junior the year before I had no experience of the race,” Bracken says. “All I seem to remember was rain, so much rain. I recall a stage in Kerry where it was only 88 miles long but it went over a lot of rough climbs which were all new to me and so tough in the wet weather.
“After the stage we had to cycle back to where we were staying, in the rain, and dinner that night was a tiny portion in a fancy restaurant that didn’t understand cyclists. Near the end of the Rás I had pins and needles in my knees and hands with all the strain.”
Timmy Barry (debut – 2000)
My first Rás took us along the quays of O’Connell Street and I remember there being an English stag party standing outside a pub. They threw pint glasses into the bunch which caused panic when they smashed on the road. A bit of a fight broke out between a few riders and the drunk stags and I ended up starting the stage with a shiner.”
“Our team van broke down a few times that week so I had dinner wrapped in a bed sheet in Mitchelstown as our bags with our gear only arrived after dinner,” he added.
Brian Ahern (debut – 2001)
“Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer intensity of the Rás and it’s hard to imagine the kind of suffering that you put your body through unless you’ve ridden it,” says Brian Ahern.
“The highlight of the week for me was being in a five rider breakaway for 50 kilometers on stage 6 from Skibbereen to Dungarvan alongside former pro Mark Scanlon when I managed to win a cat 3 prime.
“Another highlight was seeing the posters that my West Cork relations had stuck up high on telegraph poles.”
Peter Hawkins (debut – 2008)
“My two main memories of the race were firstly, being the first county rider into Lisdoonvarna on stage 3 and winning the overall county team prize,” remembers Peter Hawkins.
“Nowadays, every finisher is presented on the podium in Skerries but back then it was only the competition winners, so being able to stand on the podium at the end of my first Rás was pretty special.”
Peter Griffin (debut – 1994)
“My first Rás was the year Declan Lonergan won. I was on a young Kerry team and we were managed by the great Gene Mangan. My major memory of that Rás was suffering sore legs and survival.
“Also riding with international riders and trying to ride in crosswinds for the first time was a bit overwhelming. I managed to finish it even though I was well down the field but I can honestly say that Rás stood to me in the years after when I was challenging for stage wins and the overall.”
Padraig Marrey (debut – 1992)
I remember a long stage to Enniscorthy and somewhere before Dungarvan I punctured, got a wheel change and was flying back through the cavalcade. The gears were jumping on the bike so I was looking down to see what the problem was and bang…game over.”
“I never got to look up, all I heard was the scraping of metal on the road and I was on the deck. I woke up in hospital in a neck brace. The medical staff did all the usual tests but told me my race was over and to mind myself for a few weeks.
“Later that evening Rás organiser Dermot Dignam and now race director Tony Campbell came and picked me up from Waterford hospital. Trying my luck I asked was there any chance of the start tomorrow but needless to say the answer was no.”
Stephen Barrett (debut – 2009)
“I have two very distinct memories. The first being my teammate Paul Healion winning stage six into Castlebar and the second being the following day where I embarked on a 110 kilometre solo breakaway,” says Stephen Barrett on his debut.
“I went into that Rás fairly clueless about how to ride a long stage race but came out a much more confident and better rider thanks to my teammates and manager.
“I had the experience of knowing what it was like being chased down by the yellow jersey of Simon Richardson and his Rapha Condor teammates.”
Bill Moore (debut – 1992)
You can’t replicate the atmosphere of the Rás. It’s unique. I finished in the top 20 but what I remember most is wherever you were around the country the support from the roadside and the chant “Let’s hear it for the men of the Rás”.
“Since 1992 it’s been my favourite week of the year,” he added.
Martin O’Loughlin (debut – 1987)
“My memories are firstly, an attack from the gun up Aherlow out of Tipperary Town. All our team made the split except me. Norman Campbell and I were caught in no-man’s land 30 seconds behind the break for the first hour.
“I hit a pothole on the descent and lost both water bottles. I never saw a team car for two hours and was on my hands and knees from dehydration.
“I arrived at the finish line to find our team manager and another manager squaring up to each other armed with monkey wrenches following a cavalcade incident.”
Barry Meehan (debut – 2005)
“Passing through Gorey the entire town was brought to a stand-still as everyone came out to cheer us on.
“The local judge must have been a cyclist, as word filtered through that even the courthouse had closed for two hours to enable people watch the Rás.
“We felt like Tour de France riders at that point…but a few kilometres later a guy mowing his lawn didn’t even look up as the bunch passed his front gate. A welcome back to reality.”
Originally published Friday at 21.25