Ras na mBan 2012 was comprised of six stages over five days from September 9th to 13th.

The event included almost 400km of racing on some of the most famous roads in Irish cycling.

In a break with tradition the 2012 event started on a Sunday and featured a short road stage followed by a 3km time trial in the afternoon of the first day.

The ‘Queen stage’ included the climbs of Ballaghabearna and Ballaghasheen for the first time along with the regular ascent of Coomaciste as it worked its way across some of the most spectacular scenery in the Ring of Kerry.

Sunday’s Sneem Hotel Stage One is the second shortest road stage of the race at 66km and includes just two short category three drags to test riders and establish a leader in the IVCA Queen of the Mountains classification.

The stage two three kilometre WomensCycling.ie time trial on Sunday afternoon is a new challenge for the riders. With a gently rising profile, it will suit powerful riders over the pure climbers.

Stage three on Monday morning is the 80km Star Sailing Healy Pass stage over roads that went a long way to deciding the final outcome of last year’s general classification.

The stage, including ascents of Knockanoughanish and Caha Pass as well the climb of Healy pass, was a landslide winner in the vote for the most popular stage of the race by riders and support crew last year.

Tuesday’s Fixx Coffee House supported Valentia Island stage is the joint longest at 95km and includes just two categorised climbs, Coomaciste and Geokaun Mountain, and offers an opportunity for the ‘rouleurs’ to get in the mix for stage honours.

The penultimate stage on Wednesday is the An Post Queen Stage over 95km and three first category climbs of Ballaghabearna, Ballaghasheen and Coomaciste.

Riders must coax tired legs into action just one more time for Thursday’s brief Bracken Clinic Moll’s Gap sixth stage over just 57km with the climbs of Moll’s Gap and Carraig na Gaoithe presenting the final opportunity for a change to the final classification order.

Stage 1 – Sunday 9th September 2012
Name of Stage Sneem Hotel Gortagowan Circuit
Map http://ridewithgps.com/routes/438112
Stage Description Starts/finishes Sneem Village

4 x laps of Gortagowan

QOM: Stage 1 and 3

Prime: Stage 2 in Sneem village

66km

Sign on / Start 9.30am in Sneem Village; 10.30am start
Stage 2 – Sunday 9th September 2012
Name of Stage WomensCycling.ie Time Trial
Stage Description 3km TT

Riders go off in reverse General Classification order

First Rider off 4.01pm
Stage 3 – Monday 10th September 2012
Name of Stage Star Sailing Healy Pass Stage
Map http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1477577
Stage Description Starts/Finishes at Star Sailing on the coast road.

QOM – Knockanoughanish

QOM – Healy Pass

QOM – Caha Pass

80km

Sign on / Start 11.00am at Star Sailing, Dawros on Coast Road (transfers provided where needed); 12.00 noon start
Stage 4 – Tuesday 10th September 2012
Name of Stage Fixx Café Valentia Island Stage
Map http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1477649
Stage Description Starts Sneem Village; finishes Valentia Island

QOM – Coomaciste

QOM – Geokaun Mountain

95km

Sign on / Start 10.00am Sneem Village; 11.00am start
Stage 5 – Wednesday 12th September 2012
Name of Stage An Post Queen Stage
Map http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1477698
Stage Description Starts/finishes Sneem Village;

QOM – Ballaghabeama

QOM – Ballaghasheen

QOM – Coomaciste

95km

Sign on / Start 11.00am Sneem Village; 12.00 noon start
Stage 6 – Thursday 13th September
Name of Stage Bracken Clinic Molls Gap Stage
Map http://ridewithgps.com/routes/438102
Stage Description Starts/finishes Sneem Village;

QOM – Molls Gap

QOM – Carraig na Gaoithe

57km

Sign on / Start 10.00am Sneem Village; 11.00am start