Cyclists set to flock to Laois town for Rás na mBán

Mountrath is set to be the finish line for stage three of this year's Rás na mBán as Ireland’s biggest international stage cycle race with over 100 of the world’s top women racers takes place across the country.

Stage three will start in Portlaoise at Laois County Council Offices before passing through Stradbally, Emo, Mountmellick, Clonaslee, The Cut, Mountrath, Ballacolla and Abbeyleix. The race will pass through Mountrath at approximately 1pm before finishing in Mountrath at approximately 2pm. The race will finish on Patrick Street with the finish line/stage approximately 200m from St. Fintan's Church.

Stage map below. More below picture

Rás na mBan, is Ireland's top bike race for women, attracting riders from all over USA, Oceania, Africa and Asia. In the 2022 Rás, Team Ireland’s Lara Gillespie sprinted to victory in the opening stage of Rás na mBan, leading home a large bunch into Callan.  Gillespie’s win was the first for an Irish rider since Olivia Dillon’s success in 2014.

The 2023 running of the event begins on Wednesday, September 6 with six stages taking place over five days.

This year the route offers a variety of challenges from testing hilly stages including the stage four climb of ‘The Cut’ in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Laois followed by the demanding Tramore stage in County Waterford on the penultimate day to the stage five-time trial on Sunday where riders will ride solo against the watch on the new Kilkenny Castle course.

Stage three of Rás na mBán takes place on Friday, September 8.