CYCLING: It's showtime. Shortly before 12.30pm on Sunday a record field of 200 riders will line up outside Dublin's GPO. Over the next eight days and 1,100 kilometres the main protagonists will slug it out as they seek to gain precious seconds over their rivals.
This year's FBD Insurance Rás is poised to be the most open in years, the huge foreign contingent making for an unpredictable contest. Well over half the field is from overseas; amongst those lured by the world ranking points on offer are six professional squads plus the TIAA-CREF development team set up by former Tour de France rider Jonathan Vaughers. All in all, the overseas armada represents a real threat to Irish hopes.
Twelve months ago David McCann and David O'Loughlin finished first and third overall in the race, capping an excellent week for the national squad. This time the duo are absent due to commitments with their pro teams, meaning Belgium-based riders Stephen Gallagher and Paídi O'Brien will lead the charge on the Grant Thornton Ireland team. They will be backed by Brian Keane, Conor Murphy and John Dempsey.
Standing in their way is that considerable overseas force, with three former winners amongst those chasing victory this time round. Julian Winn (Wales Stena Line), Paul Manning and Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk) should be in the running for overall honours, and so, too, riders from pro teams such as Estonia - Kalev Chocolate Classic Bicycles, Czech Republic - Elmarco KK Cube Dukla Liberec, Canada - Jet Fuel Coffee/Sympatico, the Netherlands - Team B&E, and Norway - Team Sparebanken Vest.
The race starts with a fast 136km stage in Dublin, scaling the category three Tully Esker hill and concluding in Emyvale. Day two sees the field cover 165kms between Emyvale and Tubbercurry with again one category-three climb - Corraghduff. The course turns due south on Tuesday, the riders taking in the ascents of Lurga (category three) and Corkscrew Hill (category two) along a wind-exposed 156km run to Lisdoonvarna.
Tiring legs mean the cracks could start to appear on day four, a 162km race to Templemore which includes four third category ascents. But it is on Thursday's fifth stage the real mountains begin, with the first category climbs of the Crag and the Butts plus the Grangehill (category three), Uskerty Hill and Glenmagoo (both category two) ascents all acting as springboards for attacks on the yellow jersey.
This 144km stage to Abbeyleix will be the first indication of those who can win the race.
A temporary respite from the hills comes on stage six, a mainly flat 160km run towards Rathdrum, but the road rears skywards again on Saturday week for what should prove the hardest day of the race. This penultimate stage is the second shortest at 138kms, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in difficulty; seven climbs await the riders.
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 to the finish in Wicklow town.
The race concludes on Sunday week with the now-customary circuit race in Dublin's Phoenix Park, a 50km speedfest.
