Skoda challenge success
THE final event of SKODA Ireland’s three part nationwide cycling initiative, the “SKODA Celtic Series” took place in Drogheda with the Tour de Boyne Valley Cycle.
There were 1,200 cyclists that took to the saddle for this, the third year of the event, which sold out in record time.
The Tour de Conamara in Clifden and the Ring of Clare in Ennis, which both took place earlier this year, made up the trio of the events for 2018 which saw over 6,000 cyclists participate.
Participants travelled from far and wide to take part in the Tour de Boyne Valley Cycle, with two route options available, 95km and 145km for those that wished to stay in the saddle for longer.
Both routes travelled through some of Ireland’s most scenic areas. Participants enjoyed some of the best cycling roads in Louth and Meath as they passed through the famous Boyne Valley. Both routes began in Drogheda and travelled the coast road to the seaside town of Clogherhead and on to Castlebellingham.
Cyclists then turned inland towards the village of Collon, where both sets of cyclists took separate routes back to Drogheda via the rolling countryside of the Boyne Valley which included parts of the famous Boyne Valley Drive.
The event started and finished at Western Motors SKODA at the M1 Retail Park in Drogheda where not only was there a dedicated bike mechanic on hand for any last minute fine tuning before the event but there was also a team of masseuses from the Institute of Sports Massage Therapy awaiting cyclists to attend the sore bodies.
To ensure all cyclists were well looked after in advance of the cycle, Western Motors also hosted a pre-event Pasta Party on the Saturday evening.
Speaking following the event, Simon McCormack of Western Motors said; “We were absolutely delighted to be involved with the 2018 SKODA Tour de Boyne Valley and we were thrilled that 1,200 people were able to take part and see the fantastic cycling routes on offer in the North East. We look forward to next year’s event being an even greater success.”