This is the 20th anniversary of Rás na mBan and ten years since the race first journeyed to Kilkenny where the five-day, six-stage event will both begin and conclude again this year in the first week of September.
Rás na mBan returns to Kilkenny this September as Ireland’s international bike race for women prepares to celebrate its 20th edition.
It’s also the tenth year anniversary of the event making Kilkenny its base and a busy week of top class bike racing will culminate with the traditional Sunday double header of race action at Kilkenny Castle.
All week long, the top locally-based riders will be vying for the coveted green Kilkenny County Council best Irish Rider jersey, one of the most highly prized awards in Irish cycle racing.
Beginning on Wednesday 2nd of September, the 2026 edition of the race will see three of the six stages hosted within County Kilkenny with the Race HQ firmly established from a Kilkenny base.
The opening stage will get underway from Race HQ at the Hoban Hotel with the peloton racing through Freshford, past Urlingford, crossing into County Tipperary briefly as they ride towards Ballingarry. While the route will mirror last year in the opening 76km, riders will pass through the finish line in Freshford and continue for 8km on the original route before taking a sharp left and heading for the top of Rathealy from a different angle before a fast finish in Freshford.
This year’s extended version will feature three Queen of the Mountains (QoM) opportunities, for any climbers hoping to make their mark early in the race. Kearney’s Hill will play host to the opening battle for the coveted IVCA Wicklow 200 QoM jersey, while Rathealy will provide additional challenge with maximum gradients of 13.5% (average of 3.1%) on the second ascent.
Sunday 6th September, the final day of racing, will again feature a double helping of top class racing starting with the fifth stage – a 2.5km time trial set against the backdrop of one of Kilkenny’s most iconic landmarks.
The race will end with the popular hour-long Kilkenny City Circuit Race on the familiar 2.5km circuit starting on The Parade in front of Kilkenny Castle, a spectacular and high octane end to the five days of racing.
Kilkenny County Council Best Irish Rider Jersey
Kilkenny County Council has supported the event since 2016 and once again, starting on Wednesday September 2nd, along with the race for the overall title, the best locally based talent is vying for the highly coveted green jersey awarded to the Kilkenny County Council Best Irish Rider. The leading Irish rider will be presented on the podium after each stage and recognisable in the bunch each day by the distinctive green Kilkenny County Council Best Irish Rider jersey.
Riders from all over Europe and further afield, as well as the best of Ireland’s international and locally-based racers will descend on Kilkenny for the event which showcases the beauty and variety of roads and landscape of the Leinster county.
Stage finishes in Freshford, Gorey, Carrick-on-Suir, Corrabut Gap and Kilkenny City feature in the 400km week of bike racing. For full route details see https://rasnamban.com/2026-route/.
In welcoming Rás na mBan back to Kilkenny Cllr. Joe Malone, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, said, “On behalf of Kilkenny County Council, I am delighted to welcome Rás na mBan back to Kilkenny for its 20th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the race in our county.”
“We are honoured to host Ireland’s premier international women’s stage race for a tenth successive edition and showcase Kilkenny’s heritage, communities and landscapes. I also wish to acknowledge our local riders, past and present, and thank the organisers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who make this outstanding event possible.”
Race Director Valerie Considine is looking forward to returning to Kilkenny in three weeks’ time.
“Kilkenny has been a fantastic base for Rás na mBan over the past ten years and we have also enjoyed taking the race to different locations in and around neighbouring counties in that time,” says Considine.
Over the years, we have created challenging routes throughout Kilkenny, and 2026 is no different, with increased climbing adding a demanding twist to the opening stage. The event showcases everything Kilkenny has to offer, from exciting racing to the beauty of Kilkenny City and County and Ireland’s Ancient East.
Our traditional finale in front of Kilkenny Castle remains a highlight, providing an iconic backdrop for top-class women’s bike racing.
We are grateful for the continued support of Kilkenny County Council, An Garda Síochána, the OPW and our major backers, whose valued assistance makes this event possible each year.
