With just one week to go until Mitchelstown is set to host a stage of An Post Ras, excitement is bubbling, as the town prepares to play host to more than 200 cyclists, their family members and supporters.

All this week, more and more people were looking forward to the event, as the large posters and signage announcing Mitchelstown’s involvement were erected at the entrance roads to the town and residents would have received a leaflet from An Post about the exciting event.

The race will start on Sunday, May 19 in Dunboyne, move onto Longford and it will go through Nenagh, Listowel, Glengarriff, Mitchelstown, Carlow and Naas, before finishing up in Skerries.

Mitchelstown will play host to stage five and six with cyclists arriving on Thursday, May 23 between 2pm and 3pm and departing on Friday morning (24th) by 11am.

The town will have national acclaim, as the race will be broadcast on TG4, so this is a great opportunity to showcase on the national stage what Mitchelstown has to offer. There will also be coverage on C103, as well as regular updates on www.rte.ie/anpostras. To follow the cycling news as it happens, check out www.rte.ie/sport.

With a large influx of people for the race, it is expected that local business people will get a boost, as the visitors will support the local retail shops, restaurants and businesses, while the visit may also entice them to return here on a future visit.

Cyclists will face a challenging Category 3 climb in Kildorrery and after setting off on Friday, will have 154.6km ahead of them as they head towards Carlow, with five tough climbs facing the cyclists after they get past the 100km mark.

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS

Traffic diversions will be in place on Thursday, May 23 from 2pm in places where the cyclists will be passing through town and they will stop at the finish line at the Post Office.

On Friday, May 24, there will be barriers erected at Upper Cork Street and parking restrictions will apply, while those in the race will be able to park in the mart on George’s Street, so it is hoped that disruption to people in the town will be kept to a minimum.

Also, when the cyclists set off at 11am on Friday, there will be traffic control measures in place for about twenty minutes, while the cyclists make their way out of Mitchelstown. Spectators are asked to cooperate with Ras coordinators, stewards and Gardai at all times.