The countdown has begun for this October’s “Vuelta Charity Challenge” from Saturday, October 11th to Saturday, October 18th. This is the 6th edition of what was formally known as the “Blazing Saddles Tour du Tour”. The idea of an elite one-week charity cycling challenge for elite leisure and club cyclists is the brainchild of Declan Sugrue and Barry O’Halloran. Both are long-time supporters and cyclists with NCBI Blazing Saddles Charity Cycling Team. This unique project over the last 6 years has followed the main stages and all the climbs and cols in Tour de France and most recently the Giro routes of Northern Italy.

Sean Kelly

This year Blazing Saddle team leader Sean Kelly will lead the team over 6 x stages on routes from this year’s ’08 edition of the Vuelta Espana.

Sean Kelly won the Vuelta Espana in 1988 riding for Spanish Team KAS. We will be celebrating Sean’s 20th anniversary win on this year’s Vuelta Challenge (Oct 11th – Oct 18th).

The stages take NCBI Blazing Saddles from Granada in Andalucia to Madrid. French route manager and co-ordinator Seb Coulet of Cofidis, who has designed all 6 years of this project says “We have really spectacular routes between Granada and Madrid. The cities of Granada, Toledo and Cordoba will present great backdrops as we cycle through these historic and beautiful streets. The average stage distance is 160Kms. The only real climb comes early on Stage 1 when we face the daunting climb of the Valeta in the Sierra Nevada south of Granada. This is a time trial so all the participants will have their official times recorded by our time keepers”.

NCBI Blazing Saddles Logistics Administer Eleanor Kirwan says “We will have the full support of our “A Team” support crew from Blazing Saddles including outriders, mechanics, medical team, catering route markers and several support vehicles as usual. The hotels are just top class through the route stages. We carry full insurance cover for all our cycling events”.

It is hoped to have 80 participants taking part from all over Ireland and one or two from the U.K. The event is annually supported by Treasury Holdings, who are great friends and supporters of NCBI for many years. There will be two pelotons with a top group and a second group who will go a little slower. Sean Kelly will lead the top group and well known McNally’s Swords CC cyclists Joe McNally will lead the second string. Cyclists have the daily option of moving down or up pending how they are going and how they feel on any particular day.

The fundraising target is €2,900pp sharing. This includes everything from flights to four star hotels, all meals, support team and insurance. The team will fly into Malaga and out of Madrid with Aer Lingus. This represents great value for this exciting week.

One of the highlights will be the performance of our top tandem pair of Philip Finegan and vision impaired Billy Shanahan. This has the look of a very strong combination with the experience of top Irish cyclist Philip and the driving power of Billy – this tandem will be hard to hold back!!! Billy Shanahan’s “Trip to Tipp” cycling week-end takes place on Saturday, July 19th and Sunday July 20th from the Anner Hotel in Thurles. All are welcome….

“All in all we are very pleased with the Spanish project for October with Sean Kelly, Joe McNally and a great Blazing Saddles support team. We are all set for departure day Saturday, October 11th. We have a limited number of places to fill, so please give Eleanor or myself a call or email. Remember it is not for the faint hearted, however, we are raising funds for our worthy cause here at NCBI. So all are welcome if you feel up to this unique challenge” says Eamon Duffy, Blazing Saddles Tour Director.

HOTELS:

• SAT 11 & SUN 12: HOTEL SARAY - GRENADA
• MON 13: HOTEL TRIUNFO - JAEN
• TUES 14: HOTEL HESPERIA – CORDOBA
• WED 15: HOTELS VERONA AND CABANAS – PUERTOLLANO
• THU 16: HOTEL KRIS DOMENICO – TOLEDO
• FRID 17: HOTEL ISLA DE LA GARENA – MADRID

SAT 18: Departure MADRID - DUBLIN

BLAZING SADDLES SUPPORT TEAM:

• Team leader No 1: Sean Kelly
• Team Leader No 2: Joe McNally
• Motor Marshalls: Paul Devanney & Malcolm Good
• Mechanics: Gerry Beggs & Alan Geoghegan
• Catering Team: Margaret & Mick Cowell
• Communications: Stephen O’Dowd & Stefan Grace
• Route Markers: Seb Coulet & Peter Donagher
• Baggage Team: Phillipe Salla & Bernard Keane
• Medical Team: Declan Sugrue & Elaine Byrne
• Logistics/Admin: Rhona McGuinness & Eleanor Kirwan
• Tour Director: Eamon Duffy.

To join the Blazing Saddles in Spain from Saturday, October 11th to Saturday, October 18th please call or email:

Eleanor Kirwan: email:eleanor.kirwan@ncbi.ie
Direct dial 01 8821925
Mobile: 086 8114017

Eamon Duffy: email:eamon.duffy@ncbi.ie
Direct dial: 01 8821928
Mobile: 086 2593573

The fundraising target is €2,900pp sharing. We can support your fundraising in every way possible. Please give us a call!!