CYCLING TOUR OF IRELAND NEWSA CHALLENGING 900-kilometre route, some of the world's top teams and a potentially ferocious final stage in Cork city are some of the highlights of this year's Fáilte Ireland-backed Tour of Ireland, which will run from August 27th until September 1st.
Details of the 2.1-ranked international five-day were revealed at the race launch yesterday at Dublin Castle.
The race will begin with a 192-kilometre stage from Dublin to Waterford, taking in the climbs of Djouce up to Roundwood and Mount Leinster, and then finishing in the Quays. Day two should also result in a bunch finish, the 158-kilometre leg travelling along rolling roads en route from Thurles to Loughrea.
Things get tougher on stage three, a 210-kilometre route from Ballinrobe to Galway, as the riders will face the category two climb of Finny plus two other tough ascents. As was the case last year, the stage will finish in Salthill.
It is then followed by a tough 186-kilometre race from Limerick to Dingle, crossing the category one Connor Pass before heading on to the first crossing of the finish line. The peloton will then take in a tough 36-kilometre finishing loop out by Dunquin and the steep climb of Mam Clasach, before again heading for Dingle and finishing with an uphill sprint there.
The final stage is set to be a real classic. It starts in Killarney and covers 155 kilometres, including four laps of a gruelling 17-kilometre finishing circuit. Each of these will take in the 25 per cent wall of St Patrick's Hill plus another new climb on the other side of the Lee, making it possible the race lead could change.
Apart from the Irish pro teams of Pezula Racing and An Post M Donnelly Grant Thornton Seán Kelly, the top-ranked Columbia ProTour team has been confirmed. Mark Cavendish and former world time trial champion Michael Rogers are likely to lead the charge of the squad, which was previously known as High Road.
Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole), David O'Loughlin and Ciarán Power (both Team Pezula) were at the launch and each described the route as a demanding one.
They are expected to be among the strongest riders at this Sunday's National Road Race championships in Midleton, with An Post M Donnelly Grant Thornton Seán Kelly competitors such as Páidi O'Brien, Mark Cassidy and Stephen Gallagher also likely to be in the thick of the scrap for gold.
Philip Deignan (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Route du Sud winner Daniel Martin (Garmin Chipotle H3O) are travelling back from the continent and have the form to win.
The national championships programme gets under way today with the time trial champs in Raheenagh in Newcastle West, Co Limerick. Women and juniors will compete over 24 kilometres while the other riders will race 48km.
Tomorrow Siobhan Dervan (Fenix) will aim to defend her title in the women's road race championships in Glounthaune, Co Cork, with the 2007 time trial champion Louise Moriarty (Swift Racing) also a strong candidate. Sam Bennett (Dan Morrissey) and Philip Lavery (Eurocycles) are two major contenders for the junior road race tile on Sunday.
Finally, An Post have extended its support of cycling to the 2008 Paralympic squad. Four places have been secured for Beijing and the backing will be a boost to those trying to prepare for the Games.
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Today: Irish time trial championships. Saturday: Women's road race championships, Glounthaune, Co Cork, race starts 2pm; Track training, Sundrive Road, starts 11am. Sunday: Senior and junior road race championships, Midleton; IVCA CP, Summerhill, starts 9.15am.
