This Sunday will mark the start of the An Post Rás, one of Ireland’s top sporting events which will see three of its eight stages take place in Donegal.
To mark this occasion Donegal County Council’s GIS team has produced a nifty interactive map that can be used by cyclists, spectators and those following the route.
“The main map highlights the routes for stages 4, 5, and 6 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next” says Daragh McDonough, GIS Project Leader in the Council.
“The map also includes distance markers, estimated arrival times at various locations along each stage and includes the locations of all the mountain climbs”.
Daragh believes that this map will be useful to safely plan spectating or following the peloton through the county.
“You can get a real virtual feeling of the route using the 3D map with bookmarks to key locations along the route showing the length and severity of climbs. And we would encourage spectators to upload their images onto our social photo map”.
New Interactive Map for An Post Ras produced by Donegal County Council’s GIS Team
An Post Rás is an annual, eight-day, stage race around Ireland and is taking place from May 21 – 28, 2017. The epic race began in 1953 and has been held every year since. It is one of Ireland’s top sporting events bringing world class sporting action and a significant economic boost to towns and villages nationwide.
The Rás has a worldwide reputation of being a gruelling challenge in the elite, international calendar. The open racing style allows amateur county and club riders to pit themselves against domestic and international professionals.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Terence Slowey is looking forward to welcoming cyclists, their supporters and spectators to Donegal next week for An Rás.
“This is a great coup for Donegal to be hosting 3 of the 8 stages of this race and will bring additional visitors and business to the county. I am delighted that our GIS team have taken the initiative to develop this map which will be of great assistance not only to those attending the race but also those who will be following the local and national coverage of the race”.
This map can be found at www.donegalcoco.ie or as the featured map on http://donegal.maps.arcgis.com . Direct link to map http://arcg.is/2qmxZWn
