Ferbane's Mikey among competitors as Rás Tailteann kicks off in Tullamore
When Ireland’s premier cycling race, Rás Tailteann, gets underway in Tullamore today (Wednesday) the field will include one cyclist who will be competing on home soil. Ferbane’s Mikey Flaherty is set to be Offaly’s only participant in the Rás this year.
Mikey is a member of the Lynx cycling club in Ferbane, and the club is wishing him the very best of luck in the upcoming event.
On Wednesday, May 22, the prestigious Rás Tailteann starts in Tullamore with the action set to get underway at 12 noon. The start of five hard days of racing across the length and breadth of the country, this year sees Ferbane cyclist Flaherty take to the start line alongside the best international and Irish riders.
As a youngster Mikey raced with the Mullingar club Lakeside Wheelers for a number of years, winning his first prize at the Waller Cup in Bohermeen in 2018. The following year he raced his CX bike, building up power and strength that he has used to great effect, to move up the ranks.
In his first year as a junior he was third in the Leinster junior championship road race and time trial in Wicklow, a huge achievement against the top racers in the country.
Mikey continued to work hard and his dedication paid off as he raced the best of international teams in the Junior Tour of Ireland, a feat he was very proud of, having followed the race as a young lad. He was tenth in the national road championships in 2022 and he crowned the year by winning the ‘A’ category of the Midlands League. A fantastic achievement for the young rider.
2023 saw Mikey finish third overall at the Gorey 3-day stage event and race his way to A1 level, ensuring he was competing against the best this country has to offer week in and week out.
All involved with Lynx CC are incredibly proud of Mikey. From his days at the Sprocket Rocket Course organised by then-chairman Shane O’Regan, Mikey showed great promise and enthusiasm for what is a tough sport.
Shane encouraged Mikey and his dad David, also a talented cyclist, to join the club and from the first 100km spin to his first race, Mikey has been a joy to watch. Always pleasant and modest, he has shown wonderful dedication and mental grit to get to where he is today.
Mikey will guest ride in the Rás with Challenge CC, a Galway based club, where he is a university student. His clubmates in Lynx CC and all in the area are wishing Mikey and his team the very best of luck.
Hailing from the well known Ferbane family that runs Flaherty Fuels, Mikey can be sure to see plenty of orange and black jerseys over the course of the five days of racing.
The 2024 edition of the Rás Tailteann will start in Tullamore on Wednesday, May 22 and will run until Sunday, May 26.
This year will be the 69th edition of the race, and the first stage will kick off from Tullamore before making its way south, to take in Birr, Borrisokane, Nenagh, Birdhill, Newport, Caherconlish and Bruff, before finishing in Kilmallock.
Rás Tailteann 2024 stages
Stage 1: Tullamore, Co. Offaly to Kilmallock, Co. Limerick (distance 148kms): Wednesday, May 22. Tullamore – Birr – Borrisokane – Nenagh - Birdhill - Newport – Caherconlish – Bruff - Kilmallock.
Stage 2: Kanturk, Co. Cork to Sneem, Co. Kerry (distance 187kms): Kanturk – Newmarket – Ballydesmond – Castleisland - Killorglin – Waterville – Caherdaniel - Sneem.
Stage 3: Kenmare, Co. Kerry to Cahir, Co. Tipperary (distance 155kms): Kenmare – Kilgarvan – Glenfesk – Rathmore – Mallow – Doneraile – Mitchelstown - Cahir.
Stage 4: Horse and Jockey, Co. Tipperary to Kildare town, (distance 139kms): Horse and Jockey – Urlingford – Ballyragget – Castlecomer – Killeshin – Carlow – Stradbally – Kildangan – Monasterevin - Kildare town.
Stage 5: Maynooth, Co. Kildare to Bective, Co. Meath (distance 156kms, including three laps of finishing circuit): Maynooth - Dunboyne – Ratoath – Ashbourne – Stamullen – Julianstown - Laytown – Drogheda - Donore - Garlow Cross - Bective.