2011 Carrick Wheelers Challenge Sportif

IRELAND’S TOUGHEST SPORTIVE FOR 2011

Carrick Wheelers Cycling Club has announced that it is promoting a major new event for the Irish cycling season 2011 on Sunday June 5th, to be known as the “Carrick Wheelers Challenge Sportive”, and what a challenge it is going to be!! We believe that it is going to one of the toughest cycling events ever promoted in Ireland, with a hundred mile route covering a combination of the hardest established climbs in the Carrick on Suir area, savage new climbs never raced over before, and a finishing challenge on a “road” that is our version of Paris-Roubaix!!

 

ROUTE DETAILS

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

A brief outline of the 100 mile route is as follows:

START Carrick Swans GAA club, Parkside, Carrick on Suir – Cregg Road – Skough – Tullaghought loop- Skough – Faugheen – Gap of Rathlarish – Glenbower – Ballypatrick – Kilcash – Grangemockler- Glenbower – Kilsheelan – Tikincor – Nire Valley loop – Rathgormuck TEA STOP – Mahon Bridge – Mahon Falls loop – Mahon Bridge – Kilmacthomas – Carroll’s Cross – Portlaw – Curraghmore Estate – Crahana – finish back at Swan GAA club, Carrick on Suir.

Yes, it’s quite a route and incorporates some seriously difficult challenges as follows :

Challenge 2. THE GAP OF RATHLARISH. A narrow twisting new climb, the surface of which suffered badly in the recent bad weather.

Challenge 3. SLIEVENAMON. The iconic sacred mountain of Tipperary that will be climbed through the village of Kilcash.

Challenge 4. TIGANCOR, another very steep climb once used for a hill climb time trial in the FBD Milk Rás.

Challenge 5. THE NIRE VALLEY LOOP. A loop through the stunning scenery of the Nire Valley with another very tough climb.

Challenge 6. SESKIN HILL. No route in Carrick would be complete without this climb first used by the pros in the Nissan Classic and subsequently as stage finishes for the Rás.

Challenge 7. MAHON FALLS. Again another famous climb in the Carrick area, now being used by the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford. If you have not done it before, a stunningly beautiful but very difficult five mile long climb.

Challenge 8.THE CURRAGHMORE CHALLENGE. The most spectacular test of them all, a 3 mile stretch off road through the private grounds of Curraghmore Estate. For followers of professional cycling, think of the “strada bianca” of the Giro d’Italia crossed with cobbles of Paris Roubaix!! The final challenge, the ultimate test!!

So are you fit enough, strong enough, tough enough to take on the Carrick Wheelers Challenge Sportive ? Places are strictly limited to the first 300 applicants. As an added bonus to visitors to Carrick on Suir that June bank holiday weekend, the Clancy Brothers Music and Arts Festival (http://www.clancybrothersfestival.org/) takes place in the town, so there will be plenty to see and do for all the family over the weekend. So get your diary sorted out, pencil in The Carrick Wheelers Challenge Sportive for Sunday, 5th June, and then start some serious training!!

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRANTS TO THE CARRICK WHEELERS CHALLENGE SPORTIVE

The Carrick Wheelers Challenge Sportive will be one of the toughest ever cycling events promoted in Ireland. The testing route includes some very steep climbs, steep descents, and narrow roads with poor road surfaces. Full details of the route can be found elsewhere on this website. It is not suitable for occasional leisure cyclists, but for the following categories of cyclists :

• current racing cyclists

• fit, experienced touring cyclists

• good tri-athletes wishing to test their cycling prowess to the limit

• fit leisure cyclists with good bike-handling skills

As a general guideline, you would currently need to be comfortably able to cycle 50 miles / 80 K on an undulating route at an average speed of 15 mph / 24 kph. By June 5th, you will be expected to complete the Carrick Wheelers Challenge route ( including tea stop) at a minimum average speed of 12.5 mph / 20 kph.

• Entrants must be over 18 years of age.

• Entry is limited to the first 300 entrants.

For further information : Bobby Power, event organiser 087 6530186

CYCLING IRELAND RULES AND GUIDELINES

The Carrick Wheelers Challenge Sportive is being promoted by Carrick Wheelers under the auspices of Cycling Ireland and all entrants must adhere to the following guidelines from their Safety Code :
–    Have a bicycle that is in good working order
–    Wear a hard shell cycling helmet
–    Be mindful of the need to act in a manner that takes account of their own safety and the safety of others
–    Ensure their fitness level is appropriate given the nature of the event
–    Ensure their nutritional requirements can be met
–    Be conversant with and obey the rules of the road
–    Familiarise themselves with the event route
–    “sign –on” for the event
–    Be aware that marshals are not empowered to stop traffic

You must read the Carrick Wheelers and Cycling Ireland Guidelines before entering and you will have to accept them during the entry process.

ENTRY FEE of €40 ( includes Cycling Ireland levy )

PAYMENT DETAILS :

For on-line entries: Entries now closed.

For postal entries:

Mr. Larry Power
33 Dunbane
Carrick on Suir
Co. Tipperary
Phone No. 085 2738524
Cheques made payable to Carrick Wheelers Cycling Club