This year will see two Mayo based teams taking part in the An Post Rás for the first time. Castlebar Cycling Club first entered a team in the big race in 2009 and has competed in three instalments of the race since, and will be once again on the start line when the race gets under way on Sunday. This years Rás team is made up of brothers Patrick and Ciaran Clarke alongside Bernard Twomeny, Chris Coyle, and David Brennan.
While it will be the Castlebar club’s fourth time out in the event a new team, Mayo Centra, will be making their debut in the classic tour around the country. The Mayo Centra team is made up of members of the Western Lakes and Covey Wheelers cycling clubs. The team will be led by Padraig Marry, alongside him will be Michael Brady, JJ Flaherty, Michael Flanagan, and Donal Harrington.
For Mayo cycling fans the third stage of the race will finish in Westport on Tuesday, May 22. It should arrive in the town around about 2pm and will be finishing on Mill Street in the town. The following day’s route from Westport to Bundoran will see the race skirt around the outskirts of Castlebar along the N5 on to Ballyvary and through Charlestown before leaving Mayo for Sligo between 11am and 12 noon.
