Pedal power: World’s top female cyclists about to descend on Kilkenny

By COLIN BARTLEY

IRELAND’S premier women’s cycling event, which attracts the cream of world cycling, is coming back to Kilkenny.

Rás na mBan is a five-day event held over six stages in which competitors race over 400km.

This year’s race will be based in Kilkenny for the fourth year in a row. Four of the five days’ racing will be set entirely within this county. The fifth day of racing will take the riders into neighbouring Laois.

Teams from the UK, France, Belgium, Holland and more will be vying for the title won last year by Coralie Demay of Team Bretagne.

Last year highlights of the event were shown on the pan- European sports network, Eurosport.

The event takes place between Wednesday, 4 September and Sunday, 8 September.

For more information visit: www.rasnamban.com.