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Last Updated: Apr 18th, 2008 - 14:10:43 |
KELLOGG'S 'TOUR OF IRELAND' CYCLE CHALLENGE
By Tommy Campbell
Apr 18, 2008,
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| Pictured at the launch is model Sarah McGovern. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood Park, Santry Demesne, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE |
The Kellogg’s 'Tour of Ireland Cycle Challenge', takes to the highways and biways next month. Over 300 riders accompanied by 60 support staff will travel over 500 miles through the four provinces of Ireland.
The Challenge starts in Lisburn, Co Down on Thursday 9th May and finishes in Lucan, Co Dublin on Monday 12th May. All proceeds from the event will go towards the National Council for the Blind of Ireland and the Irish Paralympic team. At the launch, Paralympic Cycling Ireland received a donation of two competition standard bicycles that will be used in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Beijing.
Last year’s inaugural Challenge was a great success and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better. In 2007, 125 cyclists entered and the 2007 challenge was voted the best organised event of its type by the international cycling community.
Speaking at the launch, Event Director, Marc Barr said: "2007 was a lot of hard work and achieved much more than we had expected. The numbers already entered this year underscore the great reaction we have had from the international cycling community. Thank you to Kellogg’s, our family of sponsors and partners for their support. We very much appreciate their association and look forward to working with them this year. Finally, on behalf of the team at Kellogg’s Tour of Ireland I would like to welcome National Council for the Blind of Ireland on board again this year."
Stephen Twaddell, Managing Director of Kellogg’s said: "We are delighted to support this event again this year. The Kellogg’s Tour of Ireland Cycle Challenge is an important part of our Let’s Get Active initiative – a community-based programme of events, designed to help people in Ireland get active and have fun while raising money for a good cause. As the Tour snakes its way across Ireland next month, we hope it will inspire people to get on their own bikes and discover the pleasure of getting active. We congratulate the organisers for what looks like being another world-class event and we send a big thank you to local communities as they embrace the event as it passes through each County".
The Kellogg’s Tour of Ireland is a cycle challenge open to all amateur cyclists. It attracts entrants from all over the island of Ireland and overseas. It is a non-competitive challenge whereby each participant competes against the elements and their own levels of fitness and endurance. It consists of four stages:
9th May Stage 1 Lisburn to Cavan 115 miles
10th May Stage 2 Cavan to Galway 124 miles
11th May Stage 3 Galway to Kilkenny 140 miles
12th May Stage 4 Kilkenny to Dublin 123 miles
It is supported by the PSNI and Gardai who travel with the event through all the stages. Lisburn City Council, Cavan County Council, NUI Galway, Kilkenny City Council and Fingal County Council are Official Partners and provide services to ensure the safety and well being of the riders and spectators.
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| Pictured at the launch are model Sarah McGovern, left, and Stephen Twaddell, Managing Director, Kellogg's. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood Park, Santry Demesne, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE |
The Kellogg’s Tour of Ireland is organised by Joe and Marc Barr. Joe has competed for Ireland and Northern Ireland as a professional and has put together the four stages. Marc is a logistics expert and ensures that everything is in place to ensure a safe, exciting and enjoyable event.
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