Course will test riders to the limit

Cycling: The route for the 2005 Rás has been released, with the May 22nd-29th contest to cover 1,100 kilometres and 21 categorised climbs as it winds anti-clockwise around the country.

The race will feature three first-time stage finish towns in Emyvale, Templemore and Rathdrum; with professional and amateur riders expected from at least 10 countries, it has the makings of a fiercely-contested event.

The race will begin with a fast 136-kilometre stage in Dublin, travelling through Balbriggan and Drogheda and scaling the category three Tully Esker Hill before the finish in Emyvale.

Day two sees the field cover 165 kilometres between Emyvale and Tubbercurry with again just one category three climb - Corraghduff - featuring.

With the field still fresh and the yellow jersey up for grabs, this should be a fast, aggressive stage. So too the 156-kilometre leg to Lisdoonvarna, taking the riders through Charlestown, Tuam, Kinvara and Ballyvaughan and over Lurga (category three) and Corkscrew Hill (category two).

Tiring legs mean the cracks could start to appear on day four, a 162-kilometre race to Templemore which includes four category three ascents.

It is on stage five that the real mountains begin, however, with the category one climbs of The Crag and The Butts plus the Grangehill (category three), Uskerty Hill and Glenmagoo (category two) ascents all acting as springboards for attacks on the yellow jersey. This 144-kilometre stage to Abbeyleix will offer the first clear indication of those who can mount a challenge for the race.

A temporary respite from the hills comes on stage six, a mainly flat 160 kilometres to Rathdrum, but the road rears skywards again on Saturday when the riders tackle what should prove the hardest day of the race. This is the second shortest stage at just 138 kilometres, but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in difficulty - seven climbs await the wearying riders, providing ample opportunity for the yellow jersey contenders to slug it out.

Ballygannon Hill (category three), Slieveman (category one), Barnameelia (category three), Lacken (category three) and Ballyward (category two) set the tone before the final category one double-whammy of Sally Gap and Lugalla. Once over the climbs the riders will speed through Roundwood and on to the finish in Wicklow town.

The race concludes with the now-customary circuit race in Dublin's Phoenix Park, a 50-kilometre speedfest which will delight both spectators and sprinters alike.

New regulations by cycling's world governing body, the UCI, have increased the budget required to run international races. While this makes things difficult for races such as the Rás, the new deal with sole sponsors FBD Insurances should help ensure the future of Ireland's biggest cycling event.

RÁS 2005 (Sunday, May 22nd-Sunday, May 29th): Stage 1, Sunday - Dublin-Emyvale, 136 kms; Stage 2, Monday - Emyvale-Tubbercurry, 165 kms; Stage 3, Tuesday - Tubbercurry-Lisdoonvarna, 156 kms; Stage 4, Wednesday - Lisdoonvarna-Templemore, 162 kms; Stage 5, Thursday - Templemore-Abbeyleix, 144 kms; Stage 6, Friday - Abbeyleix-Rathdrum, 160 kms; Stage 7, Saturday - Rathdrum-Wicklow Town 138 kms; Stage 8, Sunday - Phoenix Park Circuit, 50 kms.