2026 Rás Mumhan

Race Report: for Orwell Wheelers at Rás Mumhan.

Stage 1A

Orwell set the tone early by winning Stage 1A, the team time trial, with a polished and powerful performance. The squad of Evan Keane, Liam Crowley, Sean O’Kane, Luke Keaney, and Padraig Moran executed a smooth ride to take the stage by five seconds, putting Keane into the race lead.

The victory was the result of meticulous preparation — the lads had reconned the TTT course back in February, refining their pacing, rotations, and individual roles. Each rider knew exactly when to push and when to protect their teammates, and their hard work paid off.

In addition, Sean O’Kane’s strong ride saw him claim the U23 classification jersey after the opening stage.

Stage 1B

The afternoon road stage proved fast and selective, with attacks flying from early on. Orwell riders were active throughout, with Keane defending yellow and both Crowley and O’Kane attentive to key moves.

Their knowledge of the roads, gained from prior reconnaissance and local experience, helped them anticipate critical sections, corners, and wind-exposed stretches. This insight allowed them to position themselves effectively and respond to moves efficiently.

The decisive breakaway formed with around 25 km remaining, featuring 15 riders, including Crowley and O’Kane. The group worked well to build a lead of over a minute, effectively putting the stage win and general classification shake-up among themselves.

In the final kilometres, the break fractured under pressure, with attacks softening the group before the finish in Knockanure. While the stage victory went to an impressive long-range sprint from Josh Callaly, Orwell’s presence remained prominent.

Liam Crowley capped off a strong day by finishing 4th on the stage, enough to move him into the overall race lead. Evan Keane was more than happy to hand over yellow to his teammate.

Sean O’Kane also impressed, finishing safely in the lead group and moving into 4th overall, just seven seconds off the lead, while continuing to feature highly in the U23 standings. Brilliant start to the race for the club.

Stage 2

Stage 2 of the Dornan Rás Mumhan delivered everything Irish Easter stage racing is known for — savage weather, relentless terrain, and a race blown to pieces. On a day defined by crosswinds, climbing, and attrition, Pinergy Orwell Wheelers once again showed resilience and fighting spirit against a stacked international field.

The 116 km stage from Killarney to Portmagee was raced in extreme conditions, with heavy rain and strong winds from Storm Dave tearing the race apart from the outset. The combination of exposed roads on the Iveragh Peninsula and the slopes of Cuam an Easpaig ensured the peloton shattered, with riders finishing spread across nearly 40 minutes.

With the yellow jersey to defend, Orwell took responsibility from the gun. Luke Keaney, Sean O’Kane, and Padraig Moran were extremely active over the opening 30 km, riding strongly at the front of the bunch to control the race and protect Liam Crowley in the leader’s jersey.

Their work helped keep dangerous moves in check and ensured Orwell remained in control during a chaotic and aggressive opening phase.

As the race intensified, Evan Keane made it into the first major breakaway of the day, giving Orwell a key presence up the road. Recognising the danger and opportunity, Crowley then launched a strong move from the bunch to bridge across, underlining both his form and intent.

The move gained valuable time and again forced other teams onto the back foot. Though it was eventually reeled in after around 50 km, Orwell had once again been central to the race narrative.

As the race split to pieces in the crosswinds and climbs, Crowley remained composed and resilient. He made the key selections behind the eventual race-winning moves and finished in the main chasing group after over three hours of relentless racing.

Crossing the line in 10th place, Crowley limited his losses on a day where many riders cracked badly. He now sits 2nd overall, just over a minute off the new race lead, keeping himself firmly in contention heading into the final stages.

While the yellow jersey changed hands after the stage, Orwell Wheelers remain very much in the race. Liam Crowley: 10th on the stage, now 2nd overall. Strong early control from Keaney, O’Kane, and Moran. Aggressive racing through Keane and Crowley in the break.

With two stages remaining, the race is far from decided. After another committed team performance in brutal conditions, Orwell Wheelers are well placed to continue fighting for the overall.

Stage 3

Stage 3 of the Dornan Rás Mumhan brought the race to its defining moment, with a summit finish at the iconic Kerryman’s Table providing a brutal test for the general classification contenders. For Pinergy Orwell Wheelers, it was a day of resilience and determination against the strongest competition.

The 119 km stage from Millstreet built steadily before the final ascent, where the race exploded on the steep slopes of Kerryman’s Table. With the yellow jersey already lost after Stage 2, Orwell shifted focus to consolidating their general classification position and supporting Liam Crowley on a climb that would ultimately decide the race.

In the crucial phase before the final ascent, Luke Keaney, Sean O’Kane, and Evan Keane rode strongly at the front of the peloton, working alongside Foran CT to control the race and keep attacks in check. Their efforts helped maintain a steady tempo and prevent dangerous moves from gaining too much ground, ensuring the race came down to the decisive climb — a scenario that suited the general classification battle.

After roughly 40 km, Liam Crowley went on the offensive and joined a breakaway with two Foran riders. This move put him in a commanding position during the mid-stage, making him virtual leader on the road for much of the day. Orwell’s presence at the front forced other teams to chase while giving Liam a chance to test his legs and protect the team’s overall ambitions.

Thanks to the early control and Liam’s mid-stage move, Orwell were well positioned as the race approached the foot of the climb. The pace ramped up sharply, with the bunch already reduced and riders fighting for position before the road tilted upwards.

As attacks came on the ascent, the front of the race quickly thinned to a select group of climbers, with riders going deep into the red to hold position.

Liam Crowley dug in on the climb, riding within himself as the strongest climbers forced the pace ahead. He crossed the line in the main chasing group, limiting his losses on a day where gaps were inevitable and significant.

Padraig Moran also delivered a solid performance on the climb, finishing in the same chasing group as Crowley. His ride underlined the depth within the Orwell squad, backing up the team’s GC ambitions with a strong showing on the race’s decisive stage.

Stage 4

Pinergy Orwell Wheelers brought an aggressive and cohesive Rás Mumhan campaign to a close on the final stage, once again placing riders at the centre of the action and capping off a weekend defined by teamwork, consistency, and attacking intent.

The racing ignited early on the final day, with a six-man breakaway forming before the decisive moves of the stage. Luke Keaney ensured Orwell representation up the road, joining a strong group that also included riders from Galway Bay CC, Caldwell Powerhouse, Ride Revolution, and West Frisia.

The move was initiated by a solo attack before Keaney and others bridged across, forming a group that briefly looked dangerous. They built an advantage of just over 30 seconds as the race moved from the Beaufort circuit towards the Killorglin laps.

After the early break was caught ahead of the final circuits, the racing remained relentless. Evan Keane was again to the fore, launching a strong attack on the second-last lap in an effort to bridge across to the lone rider up the road. However, without cooperation from others in the group, the move ultimately stalled.

Undeterred, Keane remained active into the closing kilometres and attempted to open up the sprint at the finish. Unfortunately, a crash on the line disrupted the run-in, with Keane finishing in the main bunch alongside Liam Crowley and Padraig Moran.

While the stage ultimately slipped away to a late attack, Orwell riders continued to feature throughout the day, contributing to the pace and responding to moves as the race developed.

Keaney’s presence in the early break and Keane’s late aggression capped off a weekend where the team consistently placed riders in key positions — from controlling stages, to making decisive splits, to fighting for general classification.

Across the four days of racing, Orwell Wheelers can reflect on a highly successful and visible performance with two Yellow Jerseys, a White Jersey, and a Stage win to cap off a great Easter in Kerry.

Special thanks to all the support staff — Neal Hudson (DS), Ted McCafferty (Mechanic), and John Walsh (Soigneur) — for all their guidance and help. Also to the riders’ families, partners, and friends who handed out bottles, cooked, and kept the lads’ spirits high after each stage. Finally, thanks to our sponsors: Joe Daly’s, Pinergy, and Johnson & Perrott Fleet.

Team Time Trial

Stage 1A – Ballybunion to Asdee

Road Race

Stage 1B – Asdee to Knockanure

Stage 2 – Killarney to Portmagee

Stage 3 – Millstreet to Clondrohid

Stage 4 – Killorglin Finale

Pending full report

Monday

General Classification

Rank		Name	Bib	Grade	Time
9		Liam CROWLEY	84	8. C1	+2'15''
47	2	Padraig MORAN	81	40. C1	+11'50''
61	3	Evan KEANE	85	53. C1	+19'47''
68	-3	Seán O'KANE*	82	60. C1	+28'22''
96	3	Luke KEANEY	83	77. C1	+1h02'35''

Team General Classification

11

PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS

+22'31''

Sunday

	April 3rd-6th | Dornan Rás Mumhan 2026
	Easter Sunday | Stage 3 Kerryman’s Table
24	Liam CROWLEY PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +1'36''
29	Padraig MORAN PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +2'11''
75	Evan KEANE PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS
101	Luke KEANEY PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +14'19''
105	Seán O'KANE* PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +16'30''
	General Classification
9	Liam CROWLEY PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +2'15''
49	Padraig MORAN PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +11'50''
64	Evan KEANE PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +19'47''
65	Seán O'KANE* PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +20'17''
99	Luke KEANEY PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +54'30''
	Points Classification
10	Liam CROWLEY PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS 9 pt
	Climbers’ Classification
3	Liam CROWLEY PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS 37 pt
21	Evan KEANE PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS 5 pt
	Young Rider Classification
28	Seán O'KANE* PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS +19'21''
	Team Classification
13	PINERGY - ORWELL WHEELERS   +22'31''

Friday / Saturday

A huge thank you to Soudal Ireland  for their incredibly generous sponsorship of cleaning equipment and bottles for our Men’s Race Team as they head to Kerry this weekend to compete in Rás Mumhan. Your support helps keep our riders and bikes in top condition!!

We’re proud to have Soudal Ireland supporting Orwell Cycling Club — thank you for being part of the journey! Massive thank you Bernard Collins