Wexford to welcome cycling’s elite
WEXFORD is gearing up to welcome the cream of Irish cyclists this month as the Irish National Cycling Championships are staged here for the first time in 27 years.
A feast of first-rate racing is in store over the three days as 500 of the country’s leading cyclists descend on Wexford, including last year’s champion Nicholas Roche, who will be defending his title, Sam Bennett, Dan Martin and Eddie Dunbar.
The championships are being promoted and hosted by Wexford Cycling, a group formed by Derek Webb eight years ago, made up of the racing clubs in Wexford.
The plan for Wexford Cycling to host the prestigious event on the Irish sporting calendar was first put forward by wellknown cycling photographer Sean Rowe and then supported by the rest of the organisation.
The championships will get under way with a time trial starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 22.
Starting at Johnstown Castle, the time trial will take the riders on a 34 km route, to Kilmore Quay and back again. The route is flat so a very fast race is anticipated. Associate Race Director David Maguire said: ‘ The time trial route is one of the nicest in the county, taking the riders on some of the most beautiful roads in Wexford. There are challenging bends mixed with long straights which will test all of the cyclists skills.’
There will be parking in the nearby EPA offices, as the grounds of Johnstown Castle will be closed to public traffic at 3.30 p.m.
The road races will start on Saturday, June 24, at 10 a.m. from County Hall, with the M60s (Males over 60) setting off first, followed by the M40s (Males over 40) and then the M50s (Males over 50) at 11 a.m.
The M60s will complete three laps of the 18.9 km circuit while the M50s will do five laps, followed by the M40s, who will cycle six laps in total
The elite ladies will depart from County Hall on Sunday, June 25, at 10 a.m., before the main event of the Men’s Senior and U-23 race where the competitors will undertake nine laps, starting at 11 a.m.
County Hall will serve as race HQ as it has enough space in the reception area to host all the associated events over the weekend.
Each race on Saturday and Sunday will be neutralised for the first 4 km as the cyclists make their way through Redmond Square, across Wexford Bridge, before a rolling start outside the showrooms of one of the main sponsors, FerryBank Motors.
It is a poignant location to start the race as this is the business which belongs to the O’Rourke family. Frank O’Rourke, who sadly passed away, was a legend in Irish cycling and did a lot to promote cycling in Wexford.
The circuit runs through Castlebridge, then through the village of Crossabeg and then right onto Saunders Court Road. The riders will join the N11 briefly and then pass by the Ferrycarrig Hotel before taking a sharp left over the river Slaney. Then an immediate ‘V’ in the road will see the cyclists go right into a hairpin bend on Codds Lane.
The race will take a left and then return to the R781, bringing the cyclists back into Wexford Town for a finish line at the old GPS buildings, 500 metres shy of Redmond Square.
The main sponsor ‘ The Talbot Collection’ is providing the accommodation and the riders will be staying in The Talbot Hotel for the duration of the competition.