Nissan Classic announced for visit

FEBRUARY 1989

AFTER seeking to host a stage of the race for some years, Dundalk gets its wish in Heritage Year. It is announced the Nissan Classic is coming to town.

Details of this year’s route for an event featuring the world’s leading professional cyclists are revealed.

The five-day classic starts in Dublin on Wednesday, 27 September and immediately heads north to Dundalk, travelling through Balbriggan, Drogheda, Ardee and Carrickmacross.

The cyclists will depart Dundalk the same day for a series of four hill climbs over the Cooley mountains before a stage finish in town.

Total distance of the stage is 100 miles or 160km.

The cyclists, their back-up teams, as well as press and TV crews will overnight here before leaving by car for Tullamore where the second stage commences.

The Nissan Classic will be televised by RTE. Last year the event was viewed by a worldwide audience in excess of 150 million.