Cáirde Rás Tailteann has decided as of today, to definitively postpone the 2020 edition of An Rás Tailteann which was originally due to return to the roads of Ireland in June. The race will not take place now until 2021.
Over the past number of weeks, Cáirde Rás Tailteann has monitored the evolving situation daily and digested publicly available roadmaps, health guidance, sporting and crucially, Rás volunteer stakeholder input to try and safely put An Rás on the road in September/October 2020. However, the group arrived at the decision to postpone the race until next year due to health, safety and wellbeing concerns.
“Notwithstanding quicker relaxation of restrictions than anticipated, the opportunity to safely put the race back on the roads around Ireland before the end of the 2020 road cycling season has contracted rapidly on us,” said Race Director Eugene Moriarty. “Cognisant of the related planning and especially the lingering public health concerns, it was unanimously agreed that the safest, healthiest and most prudent course of action at this time would be to postpone running the 2020 event until 2021”
He added “the group shares the disappointment that circumstances beyond anyone’s control conspired to prevent the Rás happening this year, but the health, wellbeing and safety of all our volunteers and athletes as well as the general public continue to remain our primary concern”
The group will now take a break for a few weeks into August, when planning and arrangements will get underway for the 2021 edition.
In a statement released today, Cáirde Rás Tailteann said that they would like to thank “everyone for the continued large volume of messages of support and well wishes received to date.”
They also said that they would like to thank the following for their continued unwavering support: Cycling Ireland, Sport Ireland, Rás volunteers and supporters, Cumann Rás Tailteann, the media, the public, Rás stage end organisers, County Councils, stage end accommodation providers, health experts and the Gardaí.
