Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team

Rás na mBan 2026: Guide to this week's action

This year’s race is the 20th edition of the popular international stage race to be based in and around Kilkenny. 2026 is a landmark year in the history of women’s international cycle racing in Ireland and to mark the occasion, the organisers of Ireland’s top international stage race have produced a route with three all-new stages, two new race locations and other innovations in the most radical overhaul in years.

Riders from all over World as well as the best of Ireland’s international and locally-based racers will descend on Kilkenny for the event as racing gets underway tomorrow, Wednesday September 2nd, from 14:00 at the Race HQ, the Hoban Hotel.

Despite the changes to this year’s route, there’s something for everyone across the coming five days and six stages of racing. There will be plenty of demanding moments across Ireland’s Ancient East as riders prepare to take on several new testing climbs across Wexford, Carlow and Tipperary, before switching their focus to the flat and fast stage five time trial on Sunday and battling it out in front of Kilkenny Castle in the stage six criterium race.

19 teams have entered this year’s race, with 91 riders from 14 countries. Rás na mBan is very proud to see riders traveling not just from across Europe, but again from as far away as the USA, Lebanon and Malaysia.

You can find all the route information, a provisional start list, and a list of riders to keep an extra close eye on here: https://rasnamban.com/ras-na-mban-2026-guide-to-this-weeks-action/

That’s a wrap on our third Lloyds Tour of Britain

It’s been a tough one but Amelia, Leila and Teniel did us proud

📸 Chris Pops Perry

Smurfit Westrock
Ribble Cycles
Mavic
Madison UK
4Endurance Europe 🇪🇺

Stage 4 done and dusted, one more day to go

📸 Chris Pops Perry

Smurfit Westrock
Ribble Cycles
Mavic
Madison UK
4Endurance Europe 🇪🇺

A tough day on Stage 3 of the Tour of Britain today, with Amelia, Leila and Teniel battling all the way from Mold to the finish on the Great Orme.

📸 Chris Pops Perry

Smurfit Westrock
Ribble Cycles
Mavic
Madison UK
4Endurance Europe 🇪🇺

Stage 2 of the Tour of Britain — what a day!

A delayed start after a non-race-related traffic incident meant a course re-route, followed by a race stoppage after a police moto crash. Thankfully, the rider wasn’t seriously injured.

Rain was on and off throughout the day, with some biblical downpours thrown in for good measure.

Add in 3 punctures and it was certainly a day of attrition!

But we battled through and all 5 riders finished.

A special shoutout to Leila, finishing 25th in a fast bunch sprint.

On to Stage 3!



📸 Chris Pops Perry

Smurfit Westrock
Ribble Cycles
Mavic
Madison UK
4Endurance Europe 🇪🇺

Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain saw the riders take on 159 km of tough racing, including an 8.4 km neutral rollout and more than 2,000 metres of climbing — making for an epic day in the saddle.

Leila Gschwentner was on the attack early, building a gap of more than a minute before being brought back by the peloton. The move also gave our sponsors some fantastic TV exposure.

Sadly, Lidia was caught up in a crash and was forced to withdraw from the race. Thankfully, we’re happy to report that she is okay.

Stage 2 will start in Clitheroe, with the team facing almost 120 km and 1,500 metres of climbing before a fast, flat finish in Blackpool. Another tough day lies ahead!

📸 Chris Pops Perry

Smurfit Westrock
Ribble Cycles
Mavic
Madison UK
4Endurance UK
Lloyds Tour of Britain

We are proud to showcase Teniel’s Trinidad & Tobago National Champion jersey, proudly made by . 🇹🇹❤️

We absolutely love it! 🔥

What do you think?

🏆TC🥇
Smurfit Westrock
Madison UK
Mavic
Ribble Cycles
4Endurance UK
Freewheel
Schwalbe Tyres UK

We’re proud to announce our team for the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain

The five-stage Lloyds Tour of Britain Women gets underway this Wednesday, 19 August, in Cockermouth, Cumbria, with the race finishing in Royal Leamington Spa on Sunday 23 August.

It’s set to be the longest edition in the event’s history, with the peloton covering 635.8km and almost 8,900m of climbing across five tough stages. From the Cumbrian roads and Lancashire Fells to the summit finish on the Great Orme, the challenging Welsh mountains and a fast final stage in Warwickshire, there’s something for every type of rider.

Our six riders ready to take on the challenge are:

🇬🇧 Amelia Cebak
🇬🇧 Jo Tindley
🇦🇹 Leila Gschwentner
🇺🇸 Lidia Cusack
🇿🇦 S’Annara Grove
🇹🇹 Teniel Campbell

Stage 1 alone covers 158.9km with 1,913m of elevation, taking the riders through western Cumbria before returning to Cockermouth for the finish.

With a strong international field on the start line, the competition will be fierce. We can’t wait to get racing and represent the team on some of the biggest roads in British women’s cycling.

Let’s go!



Smurfit Westrock
Ribble Cycles
Mavic
Madison UK
4Endurance Europe 🇪🇺