The 2022 Rás na mBan will have two new stages with the popular Kilkenny City centre race acting as the finale.
The 2022 running of the event begins on Wednesday, 7 September with six stages taking place over five days in and around the race base in County Kilkenny. New additions are a Kilkenny time-trial and a new stage finish in Inistioge.
Ireland's international stage race for women returns for a 16th edition with a familiar format featuring four road race stages of varying length and difficulty, a time-trial and a circuit race which for a sixth time centres on the city of Kilkenny.
The 2022 running of the event begins on Wednesday, 7 September with six stages taking place over five days in and around the race base in County Kilkenny.
Once again, the route offers a variety of challenges, from testing hilly stages including the stage three summit finish to the 'The Cut’ in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Laois, to the stage five time-trial on Sunday where riders will ride solo against the watch on the new Kilkenny Castle course.
For a second year, the race begins in the west of Kilkenny County with a stage finish in Callan and two laps of a 13km finish circuit which will offer spectators at the finish line three chances to see the riders during the day.
The other stages cover roads which will be familiar to fans of Rás na mBan from previous years while also introducing new challenges for the riders.
The day two race to Inistioge includes a grippy and spectacular conclusion at Woodstock.
The day three 'Queen Stage' in the Slieve Bloom mountains once again features a finish in the spectacular surroundings of The Cut following a start in Portlaoise.
Saturday’s race to Piltown mirrors the second stage of the previous two editions of Rás na mBan. The familiar route includes the two laps of the Templeorum circuit including demanding ascents of the Sweep.
The final day of the race brings the riders back to Kilkenny City for two stages centring on the imposing edifice of Kilkenny Castle, one of the most popular visitor sites in Ireland.
In the morning the riders will face a 2.5km time-trial around the walls of the castle as the specialists against the watch have an opportunity to offset the advantage enjoyed by the climbers on previous stages.
The final stage of the week is the hugely popular circuit race in Kilkenny City centre, the fastest stage of the week, after which the champion of Rás na mBan 2022 will be crowned – with Anna Shackley prevailing in 2021.
"We’ve retained the best aspects of the 2021 route and added two significant new challenges that could alter the character of the fight for overall honours," said race director Valerie Considine.
"In keeping with our policy of keeping the route fresh and stimulating for riders and fans alike, we have explored new route options and we think this year we have presented a route with the best balance of challenges for different rider types.
"The move to Kilkenny six years ago has been overwhelmingly positive for Rás na mBan and we’re looking forward to another great week of racing through the beautiful countryside in September."
