Rás na mBan cycling event kicks off in Kilkenny this afternoon
The race takes place around the county until it finishes in the city on Sunday
The 20th edition of Rás na mBan begins today with an extended 98km opening stage from Kilkenny to Freshford. After rolling out from the Hoban Hotel, the peloton heads north through County Kilkenny, passing Freshford before the first intermediate sprint of the week in Urlingford and a brief crossing into County Tipperary.
The opening 76km follow familiar roads, but the redesigned finale changes the character of the stage. Riders cross the finish line in Freshford for the first time, continue to Rathealy and approach the climb from a different direction before returning for the decisive sprint in The Square.
Three Category 3 QOM contests offer the climbers an immediate chance to take control of the mountains competition: Kearney's Hill at 37.9km, followed by two passages at Rathealy. The second Rathealy ascent is 4.8km at an average 3.1%, with a maximum gradient of 13.1%, and comes with only 6.1km remaining. A regrouping is possible on the run to Freshford, but late attacks could put the sprinters under pressure.
The 20th edition opens with a strong 91-rider field, led by former winner Manon de Boer and fellow returning contenders Noor Dekker, Olympia Norrid Mortensen and Amelia Cebak, while Aoife O’Brien, Emma Jeffers and Aliyah Rafferty head a powerful Irish challenge.
The opening day celebrates Kilkenny's tenth year as the race base. Freshford offers three opportunities to see the peloton, while the route also passes close to Dunmore Cave, Jenkinstown Wood and Kilkenny Crystal Studio