Cycling Column:With the dust still settling after what was the closest finish to the FBD Insurance Rás, the organisers have released details of what they hope will be another suspense-filled event.
Last year, British rider Kristian House and the former world under-23 time trial champion Danny Pate finished exactly level on time, the honours going to the former by virtue of better stage placings.
The 2007 contest runs from May 20th-27th and has been designed to promote another tight battle. The route is almost 1,200km, featuring 20 king of the mountains climbs, and, with a tough 174km final stage, there should be flat-out racing right up to the end.
"Once again this year, through the generous sponsorship of FBD Insurance, the Irish sporting public will have the opportunity of seeing the very best Irish cyclists doing battle over Irish roads with national and professional teams from many parts of the world," said organiser Dermot Dignam.
The race begins with a 157km stage from Naas to Templemore, the riders tackling two crucial bonus sprints and the second category climb of The Cut, before hitting a 25.4km finishing circuit.
Day two takes the field 147km over one second category and two third category ascents en route to a first stage finish in Loughrea.
Sligo is the destination on stage three, the riders covering 171km to the home town of 1998 world junior champion Mark Scanlon. This stage and the following day's leg to Dungloe will be fast, tactical and mainly flat.
But the big mountains make their appearance on the gruelling, 131km fifth stage to Buncrana with six categorised climbs lying in wait, including the much feared category one Gap of Mamore.
This is certain to shatter the field and upend the general classification.
Days six and seven feature rare finishes across the Border, with the race to Derry and the leg to Newcastle, Co Down, sure to shake things up further, prior to the concluding stage to Skerries on Sunday, May 27th.
As was the case last year, this is a full road stage rather than the traditional criterium and will feature six category three climbs, including two steep ascents of the Black Hills on each of the laps of the finishing circuit. It promises to be a dramatic finale to the 2.2-ranked event.
2007 RÁS SCHEDULE
Stage 1(Sunday, May 20th): Naas - Templemore + 1 lap of circuit, 157km. Stage 2(May 21st): Templemore- Loughrea, 147km. Stage 3(May 22nd): Loughrea-Sligo, 171km. Stage 4(May 23rd): Sligo-Dungloe, 138km. Stage 5(May 24th: Dungloe-Buncrana, 131km. Stage 6(May 25th: Buncrana-Derry, including 10K loop, 96km. Stage 7(May 26th): Derry-Newcastle, 165km. Stage 8(May 27th): Newcastle-Skerries, + 2 Laps of circuit, 174km.
