We are currently starting to prepare for Rás na mBan 2008. We would like your opinions on the event – and the options that are available to us. Please have a look at the below options, and either post a comment after it, or email us at queries@womenscycling.ie
We are debating the pros and cons of inviting foreign teams to ride in Rás na mBan this year, and are interested in what you think. If there weren’t foreign teams riding, would more Irish girls take part? Do we need the foreign teams to make the racing more exciting?
Last year we left out the TT for various reasons, but in hindsight we think this was a mistake. Do you think it is good to have a TT as a stage, and if so, which stage?
The courses last year were good for the most part, except for Day 2. What changes would you have made to the courses on Day 1/2/3?
Last year we considered running it like the Rás – moving from town to town, but logistically this didn’t prove possible. Is it something riders would be interested in, or do you prefer having the same base location?
- Do you think there should be foreign teams racing in Rás na mBan?
- do you think there should be a Time Trial?
- Should beginners get a handicap?
- Should the race move for each stage, like the Tour of Ireland? Or should we use the same base each day?
- What format should we run the race:
A – TT; RR; RR
B – RR; TT & RR; RR
C – RR; RR; RR
Thanks – Valerie Considine
Write a comment below…
I am not sure if I would be ready to race at this event as this is my first year racing. Apologies
if my comments aren’t very well informed.
1. I don’t know pro’s and cons of foreign teams. I think it would be good to get as many riders as
possible though, and I do think new racers like myself will be intimidated by ‘pro’ teams. But I
would compete if I thought others were in the same boat
2.Yes, I think there should be a time trial.
3. I think there should be some incentive for beginners to race as this will get girls to give it a
try and significantly boost numbers, but I am not sure about a handicap. I would suggest having
‘beginners’ competing against each other by tracking their results in a separate table as well as
in the overall results. Perhaps there could be awards for the best ‘beginners’. They do this is
many other sports – e.g in motorbike racing where there is an overall Championship result and also a
‘Cup’ result for privateers. In cycling, this could be 1st/2nd year riders or however else you want to
categorise beginners. You already do this for young rider, mountains etc so it wouldn’t be hard and
would probably encourage more ‘new blood’. In terms of handicap, perhaps there could be more lenience
for avoiding time cut offs for beginners ?
4. There are benefits of moving base each day – more variety of route, higher profile, more like
the Tour of the North, Tour of Ireland etc but it adds costs for riders in terms of overnight accom,
car travel on top of riding each day and also daily upheaval. I don’t have enough experience to have
a real opinion either way.
5. I would probably opt for Option B as it would be more testing, although probably too tough for
‘beginners’ if they were to avoid time elimination. Either Option B or A could be good.
these options would be good.
Finally, I am not sure I’ll be ready to compete this year, it will depend on the format and how I
get on in club races. It would definately be good to test myself against other girls rather than
men though.
The 1st time I did it I had never raced before in any race and found it very exciting to think there was an International womens race held in Ireland…I was absolutly thrillede to have taken part and finished it,so to the other person who gave the last comment I would say give it a lash…it’s a fantastic experience.
My own views on Ras na Mban
1)Yes I def think foreign teams should race.It def improves the numbers in the race.last week we we were all delighted to see 27 Irish women at a national league race..it was a fantastic turn out.I’m not sure we’d a huge number more than this if it there werent foreign teams aswell.I think it also makes it very exciting and interesting to see how we can compare to the foreign girls…The first year i did it it was def alot of the reason.
2)Yes there should be a time trial.I found last year frustrating in that the bunches kept regrouping in the road races and there was 2bunch finishes.There was good racing for the queen of the hills but then it would regroup again.I think a time trial is an excellent way of showing individual strength.
I think if there is to be a time trial to try andc make it fairer all competitors should have to do the time trial on their road bike…time trials can be used.This would make it fairer for all those who do not have time trialing bikes.
3)I think it’s a difficult think to handicap.2 years ago there was a 2standard race…i think that’s what it was anyways,experienced and non experienced riders.and as far as i know there was separate prizes for both(..am i right?)People were given the choice to change on the second day but it would mean if doing well in non experienced they’d lose that…however the challenge of competing and seeing if you can stay with the more experienced bunch to me is a good and hopefully rewarding experience.I’m not how difficult and hard this was from an organisational point of view.
4)I think it’s better to have the one base.Althou it would be nice to change around it would be alot more work to organise and also more effort for teams.I think it might turn alot of people off if it’s the first time racing as that style of racing would more than likely require a teamm
car and not many might be able to organise thisI
sorry…dont know what i managed to do there to anyways here’s the rest
4)cont’d.I suppose an option on this front, if more people reply saying they would like to move around would be to have one big transport van that would take all the bags from one stage to the next.A charity cycle i do every year is like this.There’s normally about 50 people cycling and one van carries all the bags.It works quiet well.
5)option B
Thanks Fiona – your comments are really helpful. We’d really like to increase the number of home participants but
Ras na mBan isn’t the place to start – the National League and the Boot Inn is and hopefully girls will have
enough courage to ride Ras na mBan by the end of the season.
I found the atmosphere great last year with so many foreign riders – definitely would keep the foreign riders in – and try to get more women racing in the boot inn/national league races in the lead up – so that more women are confident racing in it. Saying that we should try to get more Irish in the top positions – which I suppose will be more likely if we get more women racing in general – pushing up the standard.
Definitely should have a TT. Format RR TT&RR RR
I suppose a handicap depends on the number of entries. If more women are racing in the leagues throughout the summer there would be a better guage on rider’s performance?
I thought it worked well having it in the one base – more accessible for people travelling. The idea of travelling around is great – but I amn’t sure enough women would be able to organise support cars etc.
Hiya
I did not do the race last year but did it the year before and loved the 2 day format. in response to your questions:
Do you think there should be foreign teams racing in Rás na mBan?
Yes definitely, its great to get experience racing in a big bunch of women and racing with competition abroad is a great experience also without having to travel outside Ireland
do you think there should be a Time Trial? Yes
Should beginners get a handicap? The A, B race tw oyears ago I thought worked well – giving riders the choice to ride in either
Should the race move for each stage, like the Tour of Ireland? Or should we use the same base each day?
Same base every day would make life alot easier for the riders
What format should we run the race:
RR; TT; RR – is good -same as Gorey, Corkman and other weekend stage races, seems to work well
Do you think there should be foreign teams racing in Rás na mBan?
Yes, by having foreign team this brings more variety to the racing.
do you think there should be a Time Trial?
Yes
Should beginners get a handicap?
Yes, this gives them an advantage.
Should the race move for each stage, like the Tour of Ireland? Or should we use the same base each day?
No, from experience this a logistical nightmare. Each team will require 2 vehicles. The cost too the riders and the clubs, the expence for officals will rise as they will all have to be accommodated. No.
What format should we run the race:
B – RR; TT & RR; RR
Do you think there should be foreign teams racing in Rás na mBan? Yes, it would be good to race against foreign riders aswell as just Irish
do you think there should be a Time Trial? Yes
Should beginners get a handicap? No
Should the race move for each stage, like the Tour of Ireland? Or should we use the same base each day? Yes
What format should we run the race: A
My Daughter Caroline rode the Ras two years ago as a guest for McNally Swords and thoroughly enjoyed it. This year she is, hopefully, coming back to compete again with a couple of her team-mates as Team Isle of Man. It would be nice to see a Time Trial but I think all competitors should complete it on the same bike as the road race (putting time trial bars on if required) as it is difficult and costly to transport two bikes. It would also be helpful to keep the races in the same area, as visting cyclists can make a base. If foreign riders are to be encouraged then I think the idea of an A & B race is good, like 2 years ago. This would probably encourage the less experienced riders to enter. Have you thought of a criterium as a stage, round the streets of a town, or would this be too big a task to undertake, just a thought.
An old blokes view,
1. Do you think there should be foreign teams racing in Rás na mBan?
YES,
Ras na mBan is the top womens race in the country.By allowing foreign teams it gives more status to the
event and the competitors.However the teams that are invited/allowed should be of a similar ability to our
own top riders.Competition improves the breed.
2. Do you think there should be a Time Trial?
YES,
The winner of any stage race should be the best/cleverest rider.Time trialing,sprinting,climbing are all
different attributes a good stage racer should have,and a good stage race should have stages which showcase
each ability.The secret of a good short stage race is that no particular stage dominates the race.
3. Should beginners get a handicap?
NO,
If you want an event to gain prestige then this is a no no. Riders should want to take part because its the
highest standard racing they can achieve in Irish womens cycling.How many men have taking part in the Ras
knowing they will never be at the front but knowing by finishing they will have completed the hardest event
in Irish cycling and earned the right to be called “a man of the Ras”.
4. Should the race move for each stage, like the Tour of Ireland? Or should we use the same base each day?
YES,
This is a tough call, a race based on one location is easier to orginise/run.By going place to place you
bring top womens racing to a wider audience base.How many untapped female talents are around this country
that don’t know about womens racing?.It also gives riders a real taste of stage racing a la continent.
5. Stage 1 : night Prologue TT
Stage 2 : Flat fast stage
Stage 3 : Hard hilly stage
Stage 4 : City/town Criterium(bring racing to the masses)
The reason for stage 4 is i have always felt that having a crowd at the barriers was really inspiring as
a rider, and gave a real sense that the effort you made during the previous days to finish was worth every
drop of sweat,every curse and every day you gave up something else to go training to become a racing cyclist
worth it.
Thats my 2cents worth.
Regards,
Brian
Do you think there should be foreign teams racing in Rás na mBan? Yes, it would be good to race against foreign riders aswell as just Irish
do you think there should be a Time Trial? Yes
Should beginners get a handicap? No
Should the race move for each stage, like the Tour of Ireland? Or should we use the same base each day? Yes
What format should we run the race: A
-Anne