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Welcome to Mountain Bike Ireland. Please register to get the most out of the site. Registered users can post news, articles, photos and also have access to the forum and classified sections plus you can also rate and comment on content you find on the site. Once you register and log in you will see your user panel which will allow you to upload content to the site.
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| The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia to attract thousands of cyclists to County Clare |
Ireland is set to become home to an annual international cycling event organised by the world’s largest sports, entertainment and media company.
IMG today, in partnership with Sky, Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Clare County Council, announced details of the country’s first closed road cycle event.
The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia will take place over an 80-mile (approx) course in scenic County Clare on Sunday, August 22nd 2010.
The event organisers expect to attract 2000 entrants from throughout Ireland and abroad this year, bringing significant economic benefit into the local economy, with numbers increasing considerably over the next five years. The mass participation event, which is being marketed internationally and nationally, is open to all standards of cyclists, aged 18-80. The cycle will start and finish in Ennis and travel through County Clare, taking in part of West Clare’s spectacular coastline.
Sky, the UK and Ireland’s leading entertainment company behind the Sky Ride series of events, is the title sponsor of The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia. The sponsorship supports Sky’s aim to encourage one million more people of all ages and abilities to get cycling by 2013. Sky Ride consists of a range of initiatives to get people back on their bikes, with activities like mass city cycling events on traffic-free streets through to local group rides.
As well as Sky Ride Etape Hibernia, IMG have extensive experience organising mass participation events including the internationally renowned events the Macmillan Cancer Support Etape Caledonia, Tour de Suisse, Melbourne Marathon, The London Triathlon, Triathlon de Alpe d’Huez and UK Challenge
Speaking at today’s event launch in Spanish Point, County Clare, Jo Dytch of IMG said: “The popularity and growth in road cycling is very exciting. Along with our partners we are looking to lead the way in providing a prestige event for cycling in Ireland and to establish a major fixture on the Irish sporting calendar delivering a significant boost to the local economy. This event will bring a welcome boost to the tourism in Clare annually and will see the most scenic parts of the County and its coastline exposed to the world’s cycling enthusiasts and media.”
Ms. Dytch continued: “Sky Ride Etape Hibernia is Ireland's first closed road cycle event and is open to the general public. It affords cyclists with the unique opportunity to cycle safely on closed roads, whilst rising to the physical challenge at the same time. We expect to draw enthusiasts, the health conscious, challenge-seekers, charity fund-raisers and lapsed cyclists. For the inaugural Etape Hibernia, we hope to attract as many as 2000 entrants and plan to grow this number considerably by 2014. IMG are grateful for the support of the title sponsor Sky, and regional sponsors Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, Clare County Council, and the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, without whom staging this event in Ireland would not be possible and we look forward to making it a legacy event for the region”.
Mark Deering, Director, Sky Ireland said, “We are proud to be the main sponsor for the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia. Our Sky Ride initiatives last year encouraged thousands of people to get on their bikes. We hope, through events and sponsorships such as this, that 2010 will provide more opportunities and inspiration for people to get cycling.”
Speaking about today’s announcement Keith McCormack, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Business and Sports Tourism, emphasised: “As a national tourism authority, we are glad to be ‘in the saddle’ for the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia. This event is a perfect fit for Fáilte Ireland’s sports strategy and our commitment to promoting all of Ireland’s regions as tourism destinations. This event allows us to harness the growing popularity of cycling to the natural charms and allure of County Clare and the Mid West. As well as bringing visitors and revenue to the area, the event will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the Shannon Region as both a cycling destination, in particular, and a tourism ‘must see’ in general.”
Welcoming the event John King, Assistant Chief Executive of Shannon Development said, “Shannon Development, along with its partners, is delighted to have helped secure this very prestigious event for the Shannon Region for the next five years. Winning this event helps us build on our campaign to promote the Region’s growing reputation as a leading sports and events destination. Etape Hibernia is one of a number of international events we are working on this year to bring additional visitors to the Shannon Region which have the potential to generate 10 million euro in new revenue for the Region. This new cycling event complements our strategy to secure more mass participation events, in particular sports events, which can be firmly rooted in the Shannon Region for many years to come.”
Mr. King noted that the Lonely Planet ‘Best in Travel 2010’ guide’s inclusion of Clare in its top 10 list of ‘Super Cycling Routes in the World’ was a great endorsement of the County’s cycling product. “This endorsement is a testament to the amount of work that has gone into the development of the tourism cycling product in Clare in recent times. We look forward to working with IMG and our partners to ensure the success of this event in terms of delivering additional visitors and revenue”, concluded Mr. King.
Karen Brosnahan of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau noted: “Sports Tourism generates approximately 60 million euro for the Shannon Region annually. We, along with Shannon Development and Failte Ireland, have recently launched a Sports Ambassador Programme to capitalise on this lucrative market even further by getting local people involved in sport to help bid for events like Etape Hibernia that can become legacy events for the entire Shannon Region."
Mayor of Clare Councillor Tony Mulcahy said the economic and tourist benefits associated with the event for County Clare and the wider region were significant. “I have no doubt that the people of Clare will support the event by joining Clare County Council in welcoming thousands of cyclists to the County, which will allow us to showcase all we have to offer. I especially welcome IMG’s commitment to working with local people to maximise the economic return of the event for all local people”, stated Mayor Mulcahy.
The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia was launched today at an event in The Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, Co Clare, which was attended by media outlets from throughout Ireland the United Kingdom. A number of attending journalists also took part in an arranged cycle of a 10-mile stretch of the proposed event route.
Details of The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia are available from www.etapehibernia.com or info@etapehibernia.com. |
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| Quick interview with Joe McCall |
After yesterdays victory in St. Anne's Park in Dublin we caught up with the new cyclocross national champion to ask him a few quick questions.
mtbireland: Well it's been a long time coming Joe but how do you feel now that you're National Cyclocross Champion?
Joe: Thank God that’s over, that’s how I feel! It is great being a national champ. It’s a niche discipline in a niche sport, but its still good to win.
mtbireland: I have to ask about the age thing, at 37 years young do you think it's age is an issue in cross?
Joe: Sure it is. Age is an issue now in everything I do, biking, getting out of bed, etc. Everything is just a little bit more tiring.
mtbireland: Coming into the race how confident were you feeling?
Joe: Very confident. You have to be confident in cross. Its so friggin hard that you cant have any doubt. I considered myself the favorite and rode the race that way.
mtbireland: Were the cross champs a specific target for you?
Joe: Absolutely. Time is limited these days and training for cross is not too time consuming.
mtbireland: What has your preparation been like the past few months?
Joe: Prep was ok. I’m not living the life of a pro, day to day things are all in there.
mtbireland: What about specific cross training?
Joe: Yeah, that’s where this year was different. I did Robins Tuesday night training and Marks ghetto cross races at the weekend. Also, riding in and out was work was great, every light, every corner was a sprinting opportunity.
mtbireland: About the race? Did you have any specific tactics on the day?
Joe: Fla’ ou’ (that means flat out)
mtbireland: How do you think the absence of Robin, Roger and Conor affected things?
Joe: It made the race easier for me, that’s for sure. After the 3rd lap I was able to back off and maintain the gap. I would have preferred if the guys were riding, I think I had the form to be very competitive. I would have still rode the race for the win.
mtbireland: Cross has gained a lot more interest in this country in the past few years, why do you think that is?
Joe: Because people are finally seeing that its actually the best sport in the world. No other cycling disciplines are you so out of control for so long. If you rode like that in XC or DH, you would be in hospital. I was sideways everywhere for 1 hour!
mtbireland: You did your first cross champs in 1991 and finished 3rd. How has the sport changed?
Joe: Better bikes, better riders, INFINITLY better courses.
mtbireland: Stilly question but for the 2010/2011 season will you be back to defend your title?
Joe: Defo, should be up north next year so hopefully I’ll get to ride against Roger, Conor, Lewis, Glenn etc. |
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| International Cycling Event To Be Launched In Ireland |
ATTN NEWS AND PHOTO DESKS
For Immediate Release
International Cycling Event To Be Launched In Ireland
Time: Midday
Date: Tuesday, 09 February 2010
Location: Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, Co Clare, IRELAND
Details of a major international cycling event for Ireland will be announced at a Press Conference in Co Clare on Tuesday, 09 February 2010.
The Press Conference will feature input from IMG, Shannon Development, the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Failte Ireland, Clare County Council and special guests (TBC). Photograph and interview opportunities will be provided.
Photo Desk Editors should note that a number of people will cycle a 10-mile section of the proposed event route prior to the Press Conference (10-11.30am). Members of the media wishing to participate in the cycle on Tuesday morning should contact Mark Dunphy (see below).
A media release will be issued at Midday on Tuesday, 09 February 2010
Further Information:
Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
(Tel) 00353-868534900
(Fax) 00353-6839692
(Skype) dunphypr
www.dunphypr.com
www.twitter.com/dunphypr
www.facebook.com/dunphypublicrelations |
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| DEBRA Ireland Wicklow Mountains Half Marathon |
| Irish Cyclocross Nationals Rescheduled Date: |
Hi folks,
Thankfully the snow and ice has gone and we can ride once again. Due to many factors we have only been able to 100% clarify the date for the race as of today.
The 7th of February will be the rescheduled date so as not to clash with the DH race on the 31st of Jan, and the Raheny 5km road race.
Please let all those who may be interested know, and further updates will be on www.mtbireland.com.
Thanks
Greg May DCU Cycling Club |
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| CANCELLED CX National Championships |
With great regret I have to announce that we will be cancelling the National Cyclocross Championships this coming weekend. A provisional date has been set as the 31st of January in the same location, however this is provisional to the park letting us use their facilities again. A second date of the 7th of February is also being looked at as a fall back.
As we all know weather conditions have deteriorated and it has made it near impossible for public and private transport for many of us throughout the country and the county. Many riders have been in personal contact letting me know that they would not be able to travel to the race due to the weather.
A decision made between the organisation committee, Off Road Commission, and College of Commissars to postpone the event today in light of conditions and a similar decision in the UK, and as we want to promote this race to all CI riders we needed to make this decision.
However the clouds do have a silver lining. If anyone is interested in riding the course in what can only be described as pristine cyclocross conditions, I would invite you to join me at the sign on area at 11am on Sunday morning. Plan is to do a few laps, then retire for coffee and cake. No licence required. I’ll be wearing DCU kit and looking eager.
Yours in sport,
Greg May, Dublin City University Cycling Club |
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| Bike rental scheme overwhelmed by applications |
The Dublin City Council bike rental scheme has received so many applications in its first two weeks that it has run out of subscriber cards.
The council had originally targeted 5,000 subscribers in the first year of the Dublin Bikes scheme, but was overwhelmed with 11,000 applications in the first fortnight of operation, according to a council spokesman. He confirmed that the scheme, which is administered by advertising company JC Decaux for the local authority, had temporarily run out of cards. New cards for the scheme are expected to arrive within the next week.
New applicants for the Dublin Bikes scheme received letters last week informing them that the supply of cards had been exhausted.
They have instead been given 60-day cards and will receive a further 60 days to their annual subscription once their card arrives.
Under the terms of the deal, JC Decaux is supplying 450 public hire bikes and a network of 40 docking stations in exchange for 72 advertising panels in city centre locations.
Subscribers pay an annual fee of €10 to join the scheme and can use the bikes free of charge for journeys of less than half an hour in duration, or for a small fee for longer trips.
It was reported last week that one bike had been stolen and two were not returned by subscribers. However, all three bikes have since been recovered. |
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| K Capital Round 3 course description |
Long course - 34km's
Short course - 18km's
The Start is a mass start leaving Kippure house with a nice fast 1.5km on the road.... A couple of minutes later and you will hit Athdown and you're on fireroad and climbing for one kilometer. On from there and you head downhill on the first technical descent of the day and into some flowing fast single track for 1km before getting on to an old double track for 2km's. You're now in Cloughleagh and more winding single track and double track before getting into even more single track ahead of a fireroad climb for 200meters. Head down from here and full concentration required as you have 2km's of intense single track... After the last 2km's of single track it's time to get into a rhythm and focus on the steady 3km climb before you get into a steep one hundred meter climb before a short descent and a river crossing (feet up) and then more climbing through a fantastic open heather single track for another km. Back on the road for a bit and some more tarmac let you get your breath back and it's on to Butter Mountain and we're back into a mix of fireroad and single track before descending down the old downhill track (just past Mick Jordan's house, K Capital Challenge feed sponsor, so just pop in and ask for food if you're hungry) and a bit more climbing now for about 2km's and you're into some nice double track climbing and descending. From here it's a short bit of tarmac before heading back towards Athdown to climb for the last time before hitting the fast flowing single track before the finish. Once you're back into the grounds of Kippure house it's head down for the final finish loop.
notes
There will be a feed on the course as per the other rounds.
It is hunting season in the area so pre-riding on the Saturday is not advisable.
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| k Capital Challenge Round 3 info |
It's the final round of the 2009 K Capital Challenge. If you haven't done the other rounds don't worry you can still come along and enjoy the fantastic trails which have been purposely built for this event. Chief trail builder Luke Manning from the K Capital Challenge Course design team has been out spilling blood for the last few weeks bringing you a course to remember. Race HQ for the day is Kippure house. Kippure House is privately owned and it offers quality accommodation and facilities privately set in 240 acres of mature woodland and rolling farm pastures. So if you don't fancy coming up the morning of the race why not come up the day before and avail of their special B&B rates. If you plan on bringing the family out for the day then there is lots for them to do while you negotiate the wonderful single track of the Dublin mountains. http://www.kippure.com Check out the website for more information[/link].
As with the two other rounds racing starts at midday with all riders taking to the trails in a mass start. For new racers one day license are available on the day and as with the other rounds it's a great way to get an introduction to racing without the super competitive pressure of cross country racing. For most it's a day out in the hills and discovering new trails. It's also a way to test yourself and push yourself a little further than you have done before. There is nothing like seeing a rider 50 meters ahead to make you dig that bit deeper and try and gain one more place.
For those that have done the previous two rounds the special finishers t-shirts will be given out at the finish which you can wear at the next race to let people know you 'kick ass' and finished the K Capital Challenge Series.... We'll see you all next week in what has to be one of the most idyllic settings for an off road race... if you're racing bring your camera as we would love to see your photos from the race.
K Capital Challenge Team
Directions.... http://www.kippure.com/images/kippure-location-map.pdf |
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| K Capital Challenge Round 2 this Sunday |
Round 2 of this years K Capital Challenge takes place this Sunday in Carrick Mountain, Co.Wicklow. Race HQ is based just outsie Glenealy and will see riders being truly tested on a totally new fantastic 30km loop. Round one saw the riders face two laps of a very technically demanding lap in Kilruddery Estate just out side of Bray in county Wicklow. In round 2 riders will be on a longer course but a less technically demanding one. That doesn't mean no fun tracks though as course desginers have searched high and low to bring you some amazing new single track most of which has never been ridden by mountain bikers before. Robin Seymour, chief course designer today described the venue by saying 'Carrick.. a secret Nirvana of biking..' Asked what did he mean he was quick to add, 'The place has tons of tracks untouched by mountain bikers..' 'We've managed to build a 30km loop which will see the riders climb up and over the near virgin soil of Carrick and enjoy some fantastic unspoiled views of the Garden of Ireland'... Worth noting also that there is a shorter loop for those riders that want to take part but feel the 30km a bit too long for them. Stuart Galloway added 'We were in two minds about having the shorter event, but after seeing how much beginners enjoyed doing just 1 lap in round one we just couldn't leave it out'... 'We want everyone to enjoy these new challenge races, so it's important to have a race that everyone can do.'
Sign on opens at 10am this Sunday. Directions can be found on the website http://www.kcapitalchallenge.com. The race itself kicks off at noon with all senior riders starting in a mass start. No bottle necks this time though as riders start their climb to the top of Carrick Mountain on a nice open fireroad.
"Carrick Mountain is located in the eastern foothills of the Wicklow Mountains in the Republic of Ireland. It rises directly above the village of Glenealy on the R752, midway between Rathnew and Rathdrum. The mountain is, bar a few large rocky knolls, completely covered in forest. There is a network of forest roads on the hill, with long straights, steeps slopes, hair-pin bends; the forest roads, with their sand and gravel surfaces, ascend to within 100 m of the summit."
Carrick Mountain Hill Wicklow County
Height: 381 metres OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 56 for top
Grid Ref: T23263 94064 Latitude: 52.983460 Longitude: -6.165459
ITM: 723185 694099 Prominence: 174m Isolation: 6.8km |
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