Rás na mBan

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Rás na mBan

Ireland's premier cycle stage race for women.

The 2022 Rás na mBan is Ireland’s top international cycle stage race for women taking place from September 7th to 11th from a base in Kilkenny. The 35th year of women's international stage racing will see top European riders do battle with the cream of Ireland's road racing talent over five days on some of the most beautiful and challenging roads in Ireland.

13/06/2026

Belle de Gast, WV Breda, took the opening win from the bunch containing over 70 riders as they raced into Gowran for stage 1 of Rás na mBan in 2017.

Stage 2 saw an exciting finish as GB’s Alice Barnes sprinted to the line ahead of the group to win the stage in Castlecomer having crashed with just 7km to go. After a frantic chase, she regained her position in the front group for the final sprint, leading over the bridge within 300m of the finish & holding on for the stage win, with De Gast holding on to the GC for another day.

Elinor Barker, Team GB, justified her pre-event favourite’s status as she romped up Mount Leinster to win stage 3. The Rio Team Pursuit gold medallist waited until the lower slopes of Corrabut Gap inside the final 5k of the 107.4km stage to launch her winning bid & was soon racing solo to the stage win & the overall lead.

Barker’s win provided her a 1m09s lead ahead of stage 4’s time trial over 11km on the Waterford Road in Kilkenny, which she proceeded to win by 10 seconds, furthering her lead on GC.

Stage 5 saw de Gast take her second stage win of the week as she sprinted up the Parade in front of Kilkenny Castle to win the penultimate stage of Rás na mBan. De Gast led in Sweden’s Frida Knutsson, Crescent DARE, & overall race leader Elinor Barker after the top 3 detached themselves from the main group in the final 2 laps of the 2km circuit.

The final stage saw Barnes sprint through the rain on the Parade in Kilkenny to take her second stage victory of the week as Rás na mBan came to a conclusion in Kilkenny. Her second stage victory of the week, leading in a group of 45 while also securing victory in the Points Classification.

Barker coasted in at the back of an 8 second split in the peloton however, the final margin of victory was a comfortable 1m47s. She also led the field over the final IVCA Wicklow 200 QOM climb to confirm her victory in the climber’s classification.

Mel Lowther made it 3 jersey classification wins for Team GB as she scooped the Young Rider Classification. While Eve McCrystal, Garda CC, was safely in the main bunch & rubber-stamped her week-long lead as the Best Irish rider & a career-best 5th overall.

02/06/2026

2016 was the 1st year that Rás na mBan was held in Kilkenny. 25 teams & 125 riders were on the entry list for the 11th edition, with 2015’s runner-up Eileen Roe having returned with the hope of going one better.

Rikke Lønne, Team Crescent D.A.R.E., raced home solo to take victory on stage 1, attacking with 11km remaining, to hold off a group of over 70 riders by 30 seconds to take the 1st leader’s jersey of the week.

Melissa van Neck, Team Noord Holland, outsprinted the 55-rider group to take the spoils on stage 2 in Castlecomer. The 75km stage began at the Discovery Park in Castlecomer and took in 2 separate loops around the picturesque Kilkenny town including 2 classified climbs.

Race leader Lønne raced clear of her 2 breakaway companions, Lydia Boylan, Team WNT, & Erin Kinnealy, CCN Energy HR Australia, at the foot of the final assent on stage 3, with 9km to go, & soloed home through lashing rain & wind to score an emphatic victory. The leading trio had raced clear of the bunch within the first 15km staying clear for the remainder of the 112 km stage.

Marieke Kerkvliet, WV Breda, was the only rider to record a sub 16-minute time on the out & back 11km solo test on the Waterford Road in Kilkenny for stage 4, finishing 14 seconds clear of the next rider. While overall race leader Lønne tightened her grip on the leader’s jersey.

In front of large crowds in the Kilkenny City Centre circuit race, race leader Lønne was in the main group getting set to contest the final sprint when a crash blocked the road forcing the commissaires to stop the race.

The final stage, an 85km road race, went to Eileen Roe, Team WNT, for the 2nd successive year. To no one’s surprise, Lønne took the overall victory after finishing 4th in the final stage. The Dane was part of a 7 rider group which contested the final sprint in front of Kilkenny Castle after 85km of dry & windy conditions.

Kerkvliet, WV Breda, accrued enough points to overhaul Lønne to secure the QOM classification, while Eileen Roe of Team WNT took home the Points jersey. Nina Buijsman of Regioteam Noord-Holland 2, claimed the Best Young Rider, with Claire McIllwaine of Cycling Ulster crowned Best Irish Rider.

29/05/2026

Entries for Rás na mBan 2026 are now live!

Teams, administrative staff and race organisers have been busy in the background developing plans for the 20th edition of Ireland’s international stage race. For a tenth year, Rás na mBan will be based in the beautiful medieval city of Kilkenny in Ireland’s Ancient East where it will run for five days beginning on Wednesday September 2nd.

The 20th edition of the race will feature a number of changes which organisers are excited to announce in the coming weeks.

Race organisers have already received strong interest from several teams and riders, from both home and abroad, with intentions to make the trip to Kilkenny in September, ensuring a spectacle of racing on the horizon!

“We've already had a lot of interest in this year's event," says Deputy Race Director Ronan Fox.

"This year marks the 20th edition of the race in its current format and we’ve designed some exciting and challenging new stages, covering more of Ireland’s Ancient East than ever before. We're really looking forward to unveiling them in the coming weeks.

“There's been a huge amount of work happening behind the scenes to make this year's Rás na mBan another incredible week of racing for teams, riders and spectators from near and far.

"The entry system is pretty straightforward and we’re looking forward to having another high quality bunch assembling in Kilkenny on September 2nd.”

Click here for more info on how to enter: https://rasnamban.com/entries-open-for-ras-na-mban-2026/

25/05/2026

When you realise it's just over 3 months to Rás na mBan 🙌

Will we see another strong team? Will be back for another fight for the top spot on GC?

📸

18/05/2026

Rás na mBan 2015: how it unfolded.

Grace Garner (RST Racing) sprinted to victory ahead of a 63 rider group to scoop the first leader’s jersey in Rás na mBan at Barefield near Ennis.

Stage 2 saw Emma Norsgaard Jorgensen (Team Rytger) solo in just ahead of the remains of a race long breakaway to take the stage honours after attacking inside the final kilometre. She claimed the stage by 4s to hold off Stephanie Pohl (South Netherlands) and Eileen Roe (WV Breda) in the final dash to the line in Ballyvaughan, securing the leader's jersey in the process.

Garner proceeded to take her 2nd stage victory when she led in a 37-rider group at the end of 80km in torrential rain on stage 3, holding off overall race leader Norsgaard-Jorgensen and Cecilia LeBris (Team Breizh Ladies) on the finishing ramp in Scarriff.

This win propelled Garner back into the lead of the Points competition while Norsgaard-Jorgensen retained her overall and Young Rider classification leads heading into the stage 4 TT.

Stage 4, an 8km out and back TT in Barefield, saw Natalie Grinczer (Fusion RT) dominate, taking victory by six seconds over Coralie Demay (Team Breizh Ladies) with Stephanie Pohl just 1s behind.

Pohl took the lead in GC after the stage, leading Eileen Roe by 7s with Norsgaard Jorgensen now 3rd, 13s in arrears and 4s ahead of new 4th placed rider Grinczer.

Stage 5 saw Elinor Huusko pip team-mate Norsgaard Jorgensen for the win after the 10-lap, 40km circuit race near Ennis with Rebecca Nixon (Fusion RT) 3rd across the line in the bunch sprint. Pohl remained safely in the lead group to retain her lead heading into the final stage.

Scotland’s Eileen Roe (WV Breda Manieu.nl), former British Circuit Race champion, sprinted ahead of a lead group of 31 riders to take the final stage in Ennis, powering up the finishing straight ahead of Garner and Pohl. Pohl’s 3rd place protected the 7s advantage she held over Roe to secure overall honours.

The Points jersey was awarded to Garner, while Norsgaard Jorgensen took the Young Rider jersey. QOM Classification had already been secured by Mirthe Wagenaar (WV Breda-Manie.nl) and the Best Irish Rider went to Eve McCrystal (Richie’s Garda CC).

12/05/2026

What it's all about ☺️

The fans along the Rás na mBan routes are always 💯 and we hope the race inspires some of the next generation of Irish cycling 👀

This September Rás na mBan will host it's 20th edition of the race in its current format. We hope to see you all there 🚴‍♀️

05/05/2026

Rás na mBan 2013 - How it unfolded:

Femke Van Kessel, WV Breda-Manieu.nl, sprinted to the line ahead of a group of 58 to take her second career stage win in An Post Rás na mBan for stage 1 of the 2014 edition of the race in Ennis.

Stage 2 featured a windswept slog along the coast line from Loop Head Lighthouse in South Clare to Ballyvaughan in the north of the county. Tayler Wiles, DID Cycle4Life Race Team, went one better than her stage 1 2nd place finish as she raced in at the head of a 33-rider group on the 112km Wild Atlantic Way stage. She also scooped the lead in the National Dairy Council Points Classification, the IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains and GC lead heading into Friday’s stage 3 individual TT.

Wiles secured TT victory by over 32 seconds later the same day.

Blarney’s powerhouse sprinter Fiona Meade won in stage 4 confirming her status as the fastest finisher on the local road racing scene. The Team Munster rider added to her impressive palmares with her first stage win of the 2014 race after finishing 3rd in the first 2 road stages cheered on by a large and vocal fan club from her home in Blarney. Meade powered off the wheel of stage 1 winner Femke Van Kessel on the run to the line after 10 fast laps of a 4.1 km circuit at Ballyalla near Ennis on Friday evening.

Reigning champion Olivia Dillon (Team Ireland) took her first stage victory the 2014 edition of Rás na mBan when she led in a group of 30 sprinting for the fifth stage in Ballyvaghan on stage 5. There was no stopping the multi-Irish national champion as she led out the sprint and proved too strong for Dutch duo Ines Klok and Mirthe Wagenaar of the WV Breda-Manilieu.nl squad who completed the podium finishers.

While Anne Ewing, WV Breda-Manilieu.nl, took stage honours on the final day of the race as Tayler Wiles, DID Cycle4Life Racing Team, rubber-stamped her overall victory with another dominant display sealing GC by 1m05s and securing the IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains in the process.

Fiona Meade took home the Best Irish rider classification for a 3rd consecutive year to add to her stage 4 win on Friday, while also securing the Points Classification.

29/04/2026

Stages 5 & 6 2025:

Stage 5: 2.5km Time Trial

Stage 6: Criterium Race 1 hour + 5 laps

British rider claimed the overall Rás na mBan title for 2025 in Kilkenny City this afternoon, after finishing in second place on the final stage behind France’s .goergen (Ladynamips RV), while Dane (Torelli) rounded out the podium in third in the hectic city centre circuit race.

strong performances in the hills all week helped her to secure the final IVCA Queen of the Mountains jersey, and finish 2nd on GC with just one second behind her in 3rd.

came home safely in the main bunch stage six to secure victory in the Best Irish Rider classification. also claimed the Points Jersey, while took the honours in the Best Young Rider classification.

The 20th edition of the race will take place this September, and we’re sure there’ll be a fierce battle for the Magenta Jersey. See you there?

26/04/2026

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dolores Sheehy (Usher) who played a vital role in the development of women's cycling in Ireland was. Dolores worked on the Women’s Commission, as well as serving on the Board of Cycling Ireland. She was also integral in the set up of the Boot Inn League - a pioneering women’s beginner cycling league established around 2001-2002 to encourage women into racing.

We send our deepest condolences to her family and wide circle of friends at this difficult time, as we take a moment to acknowledge Dolores’s significant impact on our community.

Race Director Valerie Considine paid tribute to her this evening, “It is very hard to believe that Dolores has passed away. The first club league I ever rode, back in 2002, was the hill climb in Bohernabreena, and I remember Dolores being there. That same year, she took me to my first National Championships in Dundrod. I hadn’t a clue what I was at, but she just wanted to encourage you. She served on the Board of Cycling Ireland and played a significant role in the development of women’s cycling, including setting up the Boot Inn League and working on the Women’s Commission. Dolores was great fun, always looked amazing, and was glamorous, energetic, and full of life. I am so sorry for her husband, her family, and her many friends.”

May she rest in peace.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

21/04/2026

Throwback to a solid day's racing from last year's Stage 4.

Kilkenny - The Rower. 101km and 1,049m of elevation. (Ladynamips RVC) powered clear of her rivals to take victory at The Rower, County Kilkenny, with Team Greece’s taking second ahead of Denmark’s (TorellI) in third.

The 20th edition of Rás na mBan gets underway September 2nd - 6th 2026, don't miss it a moment of the action.

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Hoban Hotel
Kilkenny
R95XV2D

Website

http://www.rasnamban.com/

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