Ahead of An Post Rás na mBan 2014 in Ennis this week, organisers have received the Toyota race official cars from Cummins Car Centre Ennis.

Running an international bike race with 100 competitors requires logistical planning on a military scale and the organisers of Rás na mBan are delighted that local businesses in Clare have continued to support the event in its second year in the county.

A selection of vehicles from the current Toyota range including examples of the Avensis, Corolla, Auris and Rave 4 models have been made available to the organisers to ensure the safe passage of the race through the Banner County from Wednesday to Sunday this week.

The vehicles will support the 50-strong volunteer crew which will stage the premier Irish women’s stage cycle race throughout its 400km trek through some of the most beautiful roads in Munster. Fittingly, stage 4 at Ballyalla is a 40km circuit race which passes Cummins Car Centre on each of ten, four kilometre laps.

Rás na mBan race organiser Valerie Considine expressed her delight at the renewed association with one of Clare’s most prominent businesses.

“We’ve been overwhelmed at the welcome we’ve received in Clare and I’m delighted that Jason Cummins and Cummins Car Centre have once again supported our event in such a positive and valuable way. We’re looking forward to bringing top class international sport to the roads of my own native Clare this week and we hope that everyone gets out to see these superb athletes in competition at some stage during the week.”

Reigning champion Olivia Dillon has returned to defend her title with a crack national squad getting set to face the challenge of riders from a record 14 nations.

20 teams from across Ireland, Britain, USA, the Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany and France are preparing for Ireland’s top international stage race which is based for the second successive year in the Clare county town of Ennis.