An Post RAS 2017

DirkVoodoo

Remove the pro teams? Weaker pro teams?

Most of the pro teams that come over are developmental squads, training the best new talent before they become superstars!

I think it's great that kids can line up outside their school and see someone like Postalberger or Degenkolb, the flashy team vehicles, the tanned legs and foreign accents.

I think the comment earlier about amateurs "getting around" misses the mark. No one gets around. You suffer like a dog at the hands of the pros and survive the attempts to break you. No one just gets around. I'd imagine that having one of those "men of the ras" medals at the end is a sign that you've been to hell and back, you've endured. You may not have competed or got into any breaks, but does it diminish the achievement?

The only negative I can possibly think of with the current Ras format is the placement in the calendar completely unbalances the racing in Ireland. Full gas from March (or is it even Feb now) to May and then the best summer months struggle to put on big races.

1bryan

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Most of the pro teams that come over are developmental squads, training the best new talent before they become superstars!

so, kind of like sticking juniors in A3 then.

Lumen

1bryan wrote: »

I'm just trying to think more objectively from the point of view of the race and what would make it more competitive.

But it is competitive.

Do you mean that everyone in the race should be at more or less the same level? That's not even the case in the pro ranks. AquaBlue are going to the Vuelta!

I think it's amazing that some of my friends have "raced against" Mr Postal Burger in Ireland. Nobody is under any delusions that it makes their ability equivalent.

Sure, what's the harm!

greenspurs

1bryan wrote: »

almost certainly not the same person. I'm a fred but competed at the top level in a different sport.

thanks though!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh balls.....

DirkVoodoo

1bryan wrote: »

so, kind of like sticking juniors in A3 then.

I suppose, but with lots of people out to see you fail, which is a novelty.

You could reduce any version of the Ras you've suggested to "so, it's kind of like a sunday amateur race but for 8 days" or "so it's like racing against the Belarusian equivalent of A1 coaching"

Harrybelafonte

1bryan wrote: »

Yes, I have competed at elite level.

You?

Also, your point?

Yes. Believe it or not.

My point was in the question, why do you compete?

1bryan

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

My point was in the question, why do you compete?

to help my team win

1bryan

Lumen wrote: »

But it is competitive.

Do you mean that everyone in the race should be at more or less the same level? That's not even the case in the pro ranks. AquaBlue are going to the Vuelta!

I think it's amazing that some of my friends have "raced against" Mr Postal Burger in Ireland. Nobody is under any delusions that it makes their ability equivalent.

Sure, what's the harm!

right, I completely agree. Not so much with about being at the same level - in the protour races there'll always be pressure on wildcard teams to justify their selection. The rest will qualify by status. So, while they're certainly not on the same level, the disparity isn't as glaring.

And your last paragraph sums up what's great about the Ras.

Lets say, though, one of the UK races (ToB, Yorkshire), followed the Ras model. Would anyone outside the UK be interested?

Maybe that's moot though. There probably isn't a whole pile of interest in the Ras beyond these shores. For that reason the organisers have license to continue to run the race as they please.

Kaisr Sose

Lumen wrote: »

But it is AquaBlue are going to the Vuelta!

That's a totally different team , with a separate ID etc. You must know that?

Harrybelafonte

1bryan wrote: »

to help my team win

Ok so.

Chips Lovell

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

That's a totally different team , with a separate ID etc. You must know that?

I think he means that there's different levels of team there as well. Aqua Blue are Pro Conti and would be racing against World Tour teams.

Anyone have a link to the current GC and stage results?:

Inquitus

ronoc wrote: »

Anyone have a link to the current GC and stage results?:

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/IrishCyclingRas/Results/

Inquitus

Inquitus wrote: »

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/IrishCyclingRas/Results/

They haven't uploaded any results that I can see

mal1

ronoc wrote: »

They haven't uploaded any results that I can see

Google the website and try. That link isn't showing results for some reason.

CramCycle

Stage 6 won't be up until later tonight

Stage 5 here: http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/IrishCyclingRas/Results/Stage+5/

Kaisr Sose

mal1 wrote: »

Google the website and try. That link isn't showing results for some reason.

Google is always the answer

ednwireland

stage 6 highlights showing off donegal in all its glory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6mAm_Qr4Ec

full results up

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/IrishCyclingRas/Results/Stage+6/

Kaisr Sose

Jep Gambardella wrote: »

I think he means that there's different levels of team there as well. Aqua Blue are Pro Conti and would be racing against World Tour teams.

I see what he/you mean, but Aqua Blue in the Vuelta is not an apples with apples comparrisson to the county riders in the Ras. By that I mean, Aqua Blue are there because they either qualified or were invited – as are other Spanish teams. Or am I totally wrong here and any team can enter if they have the money to support a team?

CramCycle

You have to be of a certain standard to enter the Ras too. Something they have tightened up on in recent years

CrowdedHouse

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Google is always the answer

That's it


The Google Ras!

Kaisr Sose

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

That's it


The Google Ras!

They may even get a tax break for it!!

CramCycle

Matress Micks Ras. He could put a few matresses in a trailer for riders who get picked up by the broomwagon to help them deal with it.

Kaisr Sose

The Hardly Normal Ras Stage Race

ednwireland

stage 7 what a horrible day, good to see everyone home safe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7qsUMD549A

eeeee

Anyone going for a spin tomorrow and ending at Skerries for the finish?

columbus_66

nee wrote: »

Anyone going for a spin tomorrow and ending at Skerries for the finish?

That's a very difficult run into Skerries tomorrow with Bellewstown and Snowtown, I'd say the bunch will be in pieces before the Naul.

buffalo

Thanks for the shout out bcmf - I was going in for a high-five when you offered the bottle! And thanks to Beasty for saying hello.

Happy and sad day - fantastic to get home and have all the teammates cross the line intact. But just heard of the passing of a former national champ, and a regular spectator at bcmf's corner. Pity he didn't get to see one last Rás pass through, but he lived a full life.

Lumen

buffalo wrote: »

Thanks for the shout out bcmf - I was going in for a high-five when you offered the bottle!

Well done buffalo!

Now you've a whole year to grow all that skin back. :pac:

koutoubia

buffalo wrote: »

Thanks for the shout out bcmf - I was going in for a high-five when you offered the bottle! And thanks to Beasty for saying hello.

Happy and sad day - fantastic to get home and have all the teammates cross the line intact. But just heard of the passing of a former national champ, and a regular spectator at bcmf's corner. Pity he didn't get to see one last Rás pass through, but he lived a full life.

Ah yeah I was wondering where he was....put two and two together.I did miss him today.

Regarding the bottle...3 guys tried to grab one and the 3 dropped them. There were bottles all over the place.
Chapeau again to all of ya!

ednwireland

nooooooo its over for another 5 years, what a great few days

so finally here it is stage 8 review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKCyLCqBdIE

well done all great racing, great show. hope all the skin grows back Saw some guys in dungloe getting patched up.

daragh_

Brilliant atmosphere in Skerries today. Our club has had racers guesting in teams before but this year was the first time in 30 years existence that we had club team and they did us proud. Powerful stuff watching them collect their medals. Total and utter respect to all the Men of the Ras.

GreyEagle

A few pics from the KOM at Bellewstown:
First man over the top,

koutoubia

buffalo wrote: »

bcmf's corner.

I like it. And so it shall be called form here on in!

slow

Great to see the first four U23 places being filled by Irish riders. I can't remember that happening since espoir became a separate category.

yop

Was a cracking event, aside from Saturday, we got drown!!
I was with our team 4 days, and managed to get on the stage yesterday with my own club team for presentation.
Was 4 busy days but worth it.

Hats off to anyone on here who did it, serious lads to complete that.

buffalo

The outsider's view: https://cyclingtips.com/2017/06/jake-sitler-diary-american-post-ras/

buffalo

buffalo wrote: »

The outsider's view: https://cyclingtips.com/2017/06/jake-sitler-diary-american-post-ras/

Oh man there is some pure gold in that piece

Great read thanks for posting.

"The Rás is contested by five-man teams, so controlling the race might as well be like trying to herd cattle with a house cat."

"If you think the steepness is an exaggeration, our team car burned through its clutch trying to make it over, while a group of people had to push up the follow ambulance."