Hundreds take part in race
HUNDREDS of cyclists took on the gruelling Shay Elliott Memorial Race last Saturday.
This is one of the toughest one-day races on the cycling calendar in Ireland with the best of the best in the sport turning out to tackle the Wicklow hils.
A lot of planning went into the event, with over 130 volunteers giving up their time to ensure that the day was seamless.
This year the crew received sponsorship from New Ireland Assurance, with VeloMoto TV on hand to record video footage of the race.
This will be broadcast on TG4 in June. Bray Wheelers was well represented in the race, which set off from their clubhouse and took a route around the picturesque north County Wicklow.
There were more than 200 riders on the day, which included a 151km route as well as an 89 km route.
Both routes included a climb over Glenmalure where there is a monument in memory of the late Shay Elliott.
Elliott was the first Irishman to wear the Tour de France race leader’s yellow jersey.
He was an Irish champion and came first in points classification in Paris - Nice in 1957. He also came first in Stage 3 of the 1963 Tour de France and held the leader’s jersey for three stages.
One of his last team bikes and jerseys are now displayed in Bray Wheelers, having been donated to the club by his friend Noel O’Brien.
Noel said he wanted the bike to be on show and appreciated by the public rather than hidden away in his shed.