Route

The detailed route guide for the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan 2013 is currently being prepared. It will once again feature four challenging stages. The race will again have a rolling opening stage, a day in the mountains, a day of sightseeing on some tough roads in South Kerry and a fast flat course to close off with. The major change to the 2013 route sees the mountain stage move from Dingle to Kenmare. The new stage here will be a tough challenge with three long climbs including the Healy Pass. With a total race distance of almost 500 km the race will visit East, West, South and Mid Kerry over four days of racing. At least two thirds of stage 2 will be in West Cork. Passport control for entry to Cork will not apply to the race.

Please note that as the first two days of racing are prior to the clocks being put back for Summer Time the first stage will have to start at 3:30pm.

Stage 1 Good Friday March 29th The Sliabh Luachra Stage, will start at 3:30pm and will be a 101 km race that will take the riders to the Sliabh Luachra area of East Kerry. It will start in Killorglin, on to Killarney, Kilcummin, Scartaglin, Castleisland, Firies, Castlemaine, Milltown and back to finish in Killorglin at approx 6.00pm. http://connect.garmin.com/course/702188#.T0x-TWiGrVA.email

Stage 2 Easter Saturday March 30th Kenmare, Beara and the Healy Pass. This new stage will start in Kenmare at noon and take the riders on a 150km loop out through spectacular West Cork. A formal start in Kenmare will be followed by a rolling start towards Glengariff, then Adrigole, Castletownbeare, Eyries, Ardgroom, Lauragh, the Healy Pass back to Adrigole. The race then returns to Kenmare by retracing the outward section and should be home by 4:00pm. http://connect.garmin.com/course/2653601#.UOlxIEsLHrc.email

Please note:

Following consultation with Kenmare Gardai it has been agreed to bring the race finish over the Kenmare Bridge and to finish approx 70m after the bridge. The route guide is being amended and will be posted on www.rasmumhan.com as part of the race handbook. The final 3km is relatively straight and generally downhill at a very low angle. However at 700m to go the slope increases and the run to the finish is fast. A long sweeping bend descends towards the bridge which, while it carries two carriageways, is relatively narrow. Once across the bridge the finish line is approx 50m away. There is a slight downhill gradient from the end of the bridge to the finish line.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/179901426

At approx 500m to go there is a road on the right hand side that will be used as the team car deviation. Team cars will follow this road and return to Kenmare GAA to wait for their riders.

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Stage 3 Easter Sunday March 30th Waterville and Valentia Island Stage, is in South Kerry which has proved to be a huge success over the last few years. There is a noon start again with the route the same as last year, starting and finishing in Waterville. The route will take the riders from the start at Waterville to the Glen, on to Cahirciveen, Dromid , back to within 3k of the start before the trip to Valentia Island, St Finians Bay, and back to finish in Waterville around 3.30pm after a total distance of 142km. http://connect.garmin.com/course/702454#.T0x_q1J9y6M.email

Stage 4 Easter Monday April 01st Beaufort & Killorglin Stage in Mid Kerry area, has an early start at 10am to give everybody with long journeys home an early finish at 1pm. The route will be familiar to many as it has been used on the final day many times. There are 3 laps of the Beaufort /Killorglin circuit and then on to the Shorter Donal McKenna Lap to be covered 10 times before the final chequered flag , after 114km. http://connect.garmin.com/course/702344#.T0yAUQdzBdA.email