The FBD Insurance RÁS will take place next year from 23rd to 30th May, it will once again be included on the UCI, Union Cycliste Internationale, elite calendar of international events.
2010 will be the 58th anniversary of the RÁS and will also be the 27th year for FBD Insurance to be involved as sponsor.
Announcing the dates, Dermot Dignam also confirmed that following the 2010 event he will be stepping down as race organiser, a voluntary position he has held for the past thirty one years. Dignam had indicated that this year’s race would be his last but after discussions with Cycling Ireland and FBD agreed to stay on for the 2010 event.
The race has achieved a world wide reputation as a fiercely competitive event with a unique mix of professional, international and county riders battling it out over the roads of Ireland each May.
Dignam has the height of praise for the Irish county riders “it’s unbelievable the level of fitness the county riders achieve to compete in a race of this calibre and in actual fact it’s these riders who put it up to the international and pro teams by aggressive racing”.
“The race is in a very healthy state, there are more requests for invitations from teams all over the world than ever before, and there is a superb team of volunteers who devote themselves unstintingly each year to making sure it runs off without a hitch. The race receives great co-operation from the Gardai and with the continued financial support of FBD, and the Irish Sports Council, the race should continue to go from strength to strength”.
Dignam is finalising the route for 2010 at present and he guarantees it will be a supreme test for the riders with a strong emphasis on mountain climbing and long hard stages. Details will be announced early in the New Year.
