STAGE 7, SATURDAY 29Th MAY, GOREY – KILCULLEN, 151KMS,
Gorey, Carnew, Shillelagh, Tullow, Hacketstown, Tinahely, Aughrim, Ballinaclash, Greenan, Glenmalure, Drumgoff Category 1 KOM, Laragh, Wicklow Gap Category 1 KOM, Slieve Corragh Category 2 KOM, Hollywood, Tober Category 3 KOM, (Dunlavin), Kilcullen.
The same assessment could well apply to the penultimate leg of the race, a 151 kilometre race from Gorey to Kilcullen. Scaling some of the biggest climbs in Wicklow, it will take the riders over the category one climbs of Drumgoff (km 100.7) and Wicklow Gap (km 115.2), and then the second cat Slieve Corragh (km 129.6) and the third category ramp in Tober (km 135.8). The accumulated fatigue of seven day’s racing will make things even more decisive, and the battle for yellow will be raging.
“The pressure doesn’t ease up any way at all on the penultimate stage as it is very tough,” says Dignam. “Most of the Irish lads know Drumgoff and the Wicklow Gap only too well. They are serious climbs and will play a major part into who takes the yellow jersey into the Sunday.”
Whoever is atop the leader board on Sunday May 30th will still have 140 tough kilometres to cope with before being crowned the 2010 FBD RÁS champion. As has been the case in recent years, the race will conclude with two laps of a difficult finishing circuit in Skerries; before then, the riders will skirmish on the Pluckhimin (cat 3, km 85.1) and Cross of the Cage (cat 3, km 104.4) hills.
Once on the circuit, the category three ascent of the Black Hills (km 117.6 and 131.4) will be climbed twice, providing a final springboard for attacks.
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| Map Of Last 3 Kilometres |
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| Map Of Kilcullen Stage Finish |
