Big boost for Laois as Rás Tailteann set to start in Portlaoise

Portlaoise will host the opening stage of the 2026 Rás Tailteann, with the famous race set to roll out from the county town on Wednesday, May 20.

It is a significant boost for the area, with the opening stage route also passing through a number of Laois towns and villages including Abbeyleix, Ballacolla, Rathdowney and Errill before the riders continue on towards a stage finish in Kilmallock, Co Limerick.

The 71st edition of the race will run from May 20 to May 24 and will cover 785 kilometres across five stages, taking in 21 categorised climbs along the way.

Laois has become an increasingly familiar stop on the Irish cycling calendar in recent years. The Rás na mBan returned to the county in 2025 for its sixth consecutive edition, with Ireland’s top road racing cyclists competing alongside riders from across Europe on a demanding 104km stage through the Slieve Bloom Mountains to Mountrath.

That stage began with a ceremonial start at Laois County Council’s Áras an Chontae and took riders through Stradbally, Emo, Mountmellick and Clonaslee before tackling the iconic climb of 'The Cut' and finishing in Mountrath.

Attention now turns to May, when Portlaoise will again welcome the colour and spectacle of elite cycling as the men’s Rás Tailteann gets underway in the town.

Race director Ger Campbell said the organisers were looking forward to returning to familiar locations while also revisiting routes that have produced memorable racing in the past.

"We are really excited to release the route for the 71st edition of Rás Tailteann. Each year we try to strike a balance between tradition and innovation and I feel the 2026 route does that very well. We are returning to some great Rás towns while also bringing the race back to areas that have produced unforgettable stages in the past, particularly in Wicklow.

"There is a real mix across the five days, with opportunities for sprinters, climbers and aggressive riders. Stage two into Banteer and stage four into Baltinglass stand out as particularly tough, while the technical finishes in Enniscorthy and Dunboyne will place a premium on positioning and race craft. As always, I want to sincerely thank our sponsors, supporters and volunteers who make this event possible. Planning is at a very advanced stage and we will be releasing entry details in the near future.

"Rás Tailteann is a very special event in Irish sport and we look forward to welcoming teams, supporters and communities from all over Ireland and beyond. We can’t wait to see you all on the start line in Portlaoise on May 20th," Campbell said.

Stage two will see a transfer to Rathmore, Co Kerry, where a long and demanding day awaits, taking in Kenmare, West Cork, the famed Tunnel Road / Caha Pass, Glengarriff and Gougane Gap before finishing in the Rás stronghold of Banteer, Co Cork.

Another transfer brings the race to Mitchelstown, Co Cork for the start of stage three. A fast and technical stage will traverse into Wexford, finishing with an uphill drag into Enniscorthy, a town well known for producing dramatic Rás finishes. READ MORE BELOW ROUTE MAP, courtesy of Emmet Roche.

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Stage four sees Rás Tailteann return to the Wicklow Mountains for the first time in eight years, starting in Carlow and finishing in Baltinglass. Riders will tackle the iconic Drumgoff / Shay Elliott Memorial and Wicklow Gap climbs on what promises to be one of the decisive days of the race.

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, where three laps of a testing finishing circuit will decide both the stage winner and the overall champion of Rás Tailteann 2026.