The 70th edition of the Rás Tailteann will take place from May 21st to May 25th 2025.
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Another transfer to Co Mayo for the start of stage three, where Cong will welcome the Rás Tailteann. After setting off from Cong, the riders will take in breathtaking scenery along the Wild Atlantic Way before they face the fast finish towards Miltown Malbay in County Clare. The penultimate stage will kick off from Ennis, Co Clare and take on 2 x category three climb’s before crossing the category one Wolftrap climb with less than 15KM remaining – will there be enough time to regroup before the finish in Mountrath, Co Laois? The final stage of Rás Tailteann 2025 will kick off in Kildare Town heading across the plains of ‘The Lilywhite County’ before entering Co Meath where again, the winner of Rás Tailteann will be crowned in Bective. The 2025 edition of the race is again five stages and will take on over 760KM along the roads of The Emerald Isle, including 13 categorised climbs.
Sponsor 1 – Festina – Daily County Rider Award
Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to announce that Festina will again sponsor the daily County Rider Award in this year's Rás Tailteann. This is Festina’s fourth consecutive year sponsoring the daily prize for this classification.
Festina’s philosophy is to give things time, to fill time with pauses that allow one to enjoy each new collection with feelings such as love, passion, freedom, or attraction—universal values that mark the hours of an internationally recognised brand. With more than a century of experience, Festina is synonymous with elegance and functionality. Their collections transmit a distinctly sporty character and spirit through the firm’s designs. Reason and passion. Head and heart. A matter of style.
Thanking Festina for their support of Rás Tailteann once again, Ger Campbell said, “We are incredibly appreciative and proud to have a huge brand name such as Festina involved with the race. Being the first Irish county rider over the line in any stage of the Rás Tailteann is a very special achievement, and having something like a fabulous Festina watch to remember this momentous time is great for the riders.”
Representatives from Festina said “We are delighted to be a commercial partner of Rás Tailteann again this year. We wish all competitors the very best of luck”.
Matteo Cigala of Team Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei is presented with the Festina daily County Rider Award by Race Official Ciaran McKenna after his 6th place finish in the final stage of Rás Tailteann 2025. (Photographer: Lorraine O’Sullivan)
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Sponsor 2 – Spin 11 – Jersey Partner & U23 Jersey Sponsor
Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to announce that Spin 11 are again the official jersey partner of the 2025 Rás Tailteann and also the sponsor of the U23 jersey.
Spin11’s mission is simple: ‘Produce amazing custom apparel that will enhance customers sporting experience no matter what’, and to do so in the simplest most efficient way possible. They have worked closely with customers to understand their needs, wishes and pains related to ordering club kit. They have always listened and focused on offering a solution - a pain-free ordering process, delivery that is always on time, and high quality. Spin 11 produces race kits for the Irish National Team and Cycling Ireland. They have developed and tested every garment in the wind tunnel, so they continuously deliver the fastest, most technologically advanced, and most comfortable range.
Ger Campbell said “The biggest prize in this race is the yellow jersey. That’s what all 155 riders will be lining up on the start line hoping to win. If not successful in obtaining yellow, they have five other opportunities to wear a Rás Tailteann classification jersey. However, these jerseys are only made possible by the very generous support of companies like Spin 11, which manufactures them for Rás Tailteann. Maria and all the crew at Spin 11 have done an incredible job yet again, and we are very thankful to them”.
Maria Connaughton from Spin 11 added “The Rás Tailteann means a lot to Spin 11 and all involved with the company. We are so proud to be manufacturing the jerseys again for this super event.”
Maria Connaughton of Spin 11 presents Aaron Wade (Team Ireland) with the Spin 11 U23 Rider Jersey after stage 2 of the 2023 Rás Tailteann. (Photographer: Lorraine O’Sullivan)
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Visiting Team 1 – Cycling Club Isle of Man
Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to announce our first visiting team of the 2025 event: Cycling Club Isle of Man, who return for their fourth consecutive year.
Cycling Club Isle of Man has a long history with the event and are well accustomed to the Irish terrain. Similar roads and racing types allow for ample preparation for the event. CC Isle of Man has had some very strong performances, including two riders in the top ten of the final stage into Blackrock during the 2022 event.
Speaking ahead of the event, Team Manager Conor Davies said, “Over the last several years, we have racked up a number of top 10 finishes as well as lighting up the breakaway and we hope to build on that this season with a strong group of promising young riders forming our line-up. This season we have been building up nicely towards our return to the Rás Tailteann with some solid results including a top-20 at the Proper Northern Road Race in the UK, as well as strong podium finishes in our local Jurby Criterium and second in the Isle of Man Road Race Championships.”
Welcoming CC Isle of Man for 2025, Race Director Ger Campbell said, “We are thrilled to have CC Isle of Man join us again this year. They have always been fantastic supporters of our race and, indeed, of all Irish cycling events. We have no doubt they will showcase their experience again this year”.
Members of CC Isle of Man talk tactics before a race. (Photographer: Joseph Ricciardi)
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Visiting Team 2 – Ride Revolution Coaching – United Kingdom
Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to announce our second visiting team of the 2025 event: Ride Revolution Coaching, who made their debut in the 2024 edition.
Ride Revolution Coaching is one of England's premier coaching brands, offering high-level coaching to all types of riders, both racers and non-racers. In 2023, they launched a race team of the same name, aiming to provide an environment for their coached riders of all levels, ages and disciplines to race within. Sitting at the top of this is their elite team, which competes in all of the UK's major races. In their first season, they secured over 100 race wins and 300 podiums across all events, with the Elite team finishing as the season's second-highest ranked team, including securing the highest-ranked rider with Clay Davies.
Their debut at Rás Tailteann was a roaring success with 6th overall and several top ten stage placings. Ride Revolution joined this with wins in the UK National Hill Climb Championships, UK National Masters Championships and several wins across National B Races in the UK.
Team Manager Zak Dawson explained the make-up of the team: “We have four new riders for Rás Tailteann this year, joining road captain Jake Hales. Jake had four top 15 finishes last year and we can’t wait to try improve further on this when he is joined by Harry McFarlane who is a climber by nature after taking the title of UK Hill Climb Champion in 2024, Clay Davies who is the UK’s top ranked rider for both 2023 and 2024 with 46 podiums across those two seasons, James Ambrose Parish who was next after Clay in the 2024 rankings and is an out and out sprinter along with Alex Pickering, an U23 time trialist who made a very successful transition to road racing in 2024.”
Dawson continued, “We are looking forward to racing at ‘The Rás’ 2025 and hope to build on our strong debut last season. With this year’s squad, we are hoping to push again for general classification places and stage podiums on the roads of Ireland.”
Race Director Ger Campbell welcomed Ride Revolution back to the event: “Ride Revolution certainly made their presence felt in last year’s race with a very strong debut and we are delighted to see them return in 2025. With a change up in their squad, they are certainly a team to watch!”.
Jake Hales (right) on the attack during Rás Tailteann 2024. (Photographer: Sean Rowe)
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Visiting Team 3 – TAAP Kalas – United Kingdom
Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to announce our third visiting team of the 2025 event: TAAP Kalas, who make their debut in the event this year.
TAAP Kalas are no strangers to Irish racing having ridden Rás Mumhan in both the 2022 and 2023 editions of the race, taking a 4 th on general classification and few stage podiums along the way. They were the 4th highest ranked team in the British Cycling Team Rankings in 2024.
TAAP Kalas are currently in advanced stages of team selection for 2025 and pride themselves on giving younger riders an opportunity alongside more experienced riders. In preparation for Rás Tailteann 2025, TAAP Kalas will again take part in Rás Mumhan after a strong opening in UK domestic races with several race wins already under their belt in the 2025 season.
Henry Latimer, Team Manager of TAAP Kalas said: “Our ambitions for Rás Tailteann are to compete, to be active, and hopefully showcase our team and sponsors at the front of the race. We believe that we will be right in the mix of the results if our lads bring their best legs I’m super excited for the team to be entered into the Rás Tailteann this year. It’s a race that I’ve always wanted to be a part of as a rider and manager having followed it for many years. I’m so pleased the race has been revived and we are able to attend. We do not get the opportunity to race point to point stage races in the UK so this is a huge opportunity for TAAP Kalas.”
Race Director Ger Campbell welcomed TAAP Kalas to the race: “We are delighted to welcome TAAP Kalas to the 2025 edition of Rás Tailteann. The interest from UK teams has been phenomenal and we can’t wait to see what Henry and the lads can bring to the Irish roads!”.
Members of TAAP Kalas celebrating a victory earlier in the season. (Photographer: Ollie Hucks)
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