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FBD MILK RÁS race director Dermot Dignam gives his assessment
of each stage:
Stage one, Dublin – Roscrea:
‘The opening stage is mainly flat, except we take
in a climb in the Slieve Bloom mountains called The Cut. It is probably unusual
for us to have a third category climb on the first stage, and while it may not
break the field up completely it will give the climbers a chance to get clear of
the sprinters.
There is usually a great tussle on the first stage
with the yellow jersey on offer. I have seen the race split wide open on the
first stage…many a year, the first stage has done untold damage to riders’
chances for the rest of the week.’
Stage two, Roscrea-Clifden:
‘The second stage is the longest in the race. It
is pretty flat except once we get through Galway City, there are about 50 miles
of tough Connemara roads. If there is a prevailing south-westerly wind it could
create havoc as it will be blowing riders across the right hand side of the
road. When the pressure comes on that is where all the splits happen. So even
though it looks straight forward enough, it could easily prove a very important
stage.’
Stage three, Clifden - Ballina: ‘Again, a lot of
pulling and dragging…the type of roads which some of the foreign riders find
very hard to cope with. The scenery might be beautiful but the roads are very
heavy. Many a big name from France and elsewhere has failed to cope with the
Connemara roads. The roads have no life in them and it certainly will take its
toll on some of the very fast foreigners who would be used to more lively
surfaces.’
Stage four, Ballina - Letterkenny:
‘It is a long, hard slog up to Letterkenny, with
a tricky bit at the end of it. It is going to be an interesting stage. It is 173
kilometres, a long, hard stage, with the possibility of a strong following wind
which would have the pace pretty high. It will probably result in one of the
sprinters pulling it off going up the main street in Letterkenny. The finish
itself is steep enough, not an easy finish after 173 kilometres.’
Stage five, Letterkenny - Buncrana:
‘The following day is where things starts to
balance out. The fast riders and the sprinters may have had it their own way up
till Thursday, but now the climbs really start. It is a hard stage and we start
off with a category 3 KOM which won’t split the field but will start putting
the pressure on. Certainly the climbers are going to come to the fore at that
stage. Another third category climb follows at Bredagh, and then our first
category one climb of the race, Ballagh Hill. It is a steep, unrelenting climb
and is followed shortly after that by Mamore Gap. Mamore is possibly the
steepest climb in the country – short but extremely steep. Even after that the
guys still have to contend with a category three before they finish into
Buncrana, and with Mamore so close to the end – it is only 13 kilometres from
the finish - it is odds on that the climbers will get clear and will build some
time over the guys who have been figuring up until now.’
Stage six, Buncrana – Donegal Town:
‘This stage is more of the same. It heads back
down through Letterkenny and then we go right back across Donegal. Again, there
is fantastic scenery but it is up and down, pulling and dragging all day.
Meenirroy is a tough, second category climb and after that we go on to the first
category Glengesh. This is extremely steep. It is longer than Mamore and is
probably more frightening in so far as it can be seen from very far back, you
can see the road winding up on the right hand side of the valley. There are two
very tricky, steep hairpin bends. After that, there are two category two climbs.
So again, it is going to be the climbers to the fore into Donegal.’
Stage seven, Donegal Town – Oldcastle:
‘This is again an interesting stage. The first
half is on tough, undulating roads with a third category climb at Oggal Hill.
Then there is a category two at Bellavalley, a good long, tough climb. After
that the non-climbers will be trying to get back into contention while at the
same time the climbers will be trying to hold onto whatever lead they may have
built up over the previous two days. Once we get through Ballyconnell it is
basically all fast roads from there. We are taking the Cavan bypass down into
Virginia and from there down into Oldcastle. It is anyone’s guess what will
happen….the race could be won or lost on that stage.’
Stage eight, Phoenix Park circuit race:
‘The race finishes once again in the Phoenix Park
and there is going to be some very exciting racing. As last year, it will
probably be an exhibiting of sprinting and guys trying to get clear. It probably
won’t make any great difference to the overall positions but should be an
exciting stage. There will also be underage competition that morning, so we are
hoping that a big crowd will turn up and stay for the day. There was a very good
atmosphere here last year so it should be a great end to the race.’
2003 FBD MILK RÁS statistics:
UCI 2.5 international event,
1171 kilometres, 13 categorised climbs (3 x cat 1, 4 x cat 2, 6 x cat 3),
longest stage 188 kilometres. Stage finishes in Roscrea, Clifden, Ballina,
Letterkenny, Buncrana, Donegal Town, Oldcastle and Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
Sponsored by National Dairy Council and FBD Insurance and supported by the Irish
Sports Council.
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