Top world cyclists blaze Wicklow trail

October 1986

WHEELING through Wicklow next Sunday - the finest ever assembly of world cycling talent, when the final 77 mile stage of the Nissan Classic takes off from Arklow for Dublin.

The cream of the cycling world, spearheaded by the great Sean Kelly, will head through Wicklow, its Devil’s Glen and woodland in the final climbing drama of the 522-mile six-stage race.

Although only in its second year, the Nissan Classic is now the4 top event at this time of year in the world cycling calendar.

This year’s field of 50 is even more prestigious than last year’s inaugural race which drew hundreds of thousands of spectators to the route throughout the country.

Arklow will wheel out its honours for the final stage start on Sunday. The urban council hosts a civic reception for the internationally-laced press corps travelling with the riders who will be bussed to the town from the previous day’s stage into Clonmel.

Riders from all the main European nations plus the USA and Canada are doing battle with 15 professional squads, plus national amateur teams from Ireland, Holland and Great Britain, making up the 90-man field for the five-day race.

Last year’s winner Sean Kelly faces a line of adversaries headed by the brilliant Greg LeMond, the USA rider who this year won the Tour de France and heads a crack La Vie Claire squad which includes his Canadian lieutenant Steve Bauer.