Carlow is getting set to host Ireland’s premier international bike race for women, Rás na mBan, on September 5th.
It’s the 20th anniversary of the event and the organisers have designed a particularly demanding route entirely within County Carlow for the fourth day of the race which is sure to provide an epic test for the riders.
With over 1000 metres of elevation on the way to a summit finish on Corrabut Gap, this has been dubbed the ‘Queen Stage’ of the five-day event as the one which provides the sternest test of the riders’ climbing talents.
The rugged landscape of the concluding climb and seductive beauty of the rolling hills on the approach to the final test will also form a striking backdrop to what will be one of the most important appointments on the 2026 Irish cycling calendar.
Indeed, the riders will race up Corrabut Gap on Mount Leinster not once, but twice in what is sure to be one of the most significant stages of the week.
Riders from all over the world will set off from Carlow County Council offices at 10am on September 5th for a 88.5km race after which the candidates for the final magenta winner’s jersey of the race will be reduced to no more than a handful.
A largely flat opening 55km gives little hint of what is to come. Following intermediate sprint opportunities at Bagenalstown and Garyhill, the riders will be tasked with the first ascent of Corrabut Gap QoM after 60km. While it may not be the longest climb in the week’s racing it is definitely the steepest with an average gradient of 11.5% over the 1.5km.
From there, riders will enjoy the welcome descent to Bunclody following which the riders will turn east again at Kildavin towards Myshall, and rejoin the previous route to complete a second summit of the Corrabut Gap for a hilltop finish after 88.5km of racing and 1,074m of elevation.