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Irish Veterans Cycling Association

The Wicklow 200 Classic (approx. 125 miles) The Wicklow Gap Challenge (60 miles)

Sunday 17th June 2001

The National Basketball Arena, Tymon Park, Tallaght is the starting and finishing place for both the Wicklow 200 Classic and the Wicklow Gap Challenge. It is situated close to the M50 Motorway where it joins the N81 (Main Dublin /Blessington Road) and is signposted. Both events start at the early hour of 7 a.m. The Wicklow Gap Challenge covers the first part of the Wicklow 200 course. Facilities at the Basketball Arena include a shop, changing rooms and shower facilities. There is also a large car park but participants are reminded that they must obey the parking officials to ensure that everyone can be facilitated.

The route from the Basketball Arena is out onto the Blessington Road (N81) up the embankment and through Brittas before turning left for Manor Kilbride. The route actually skirts Kilbride and heads for Sally Gap which is the first big climb of the day ( 1,650 ft)

The wild beauty of the Sally Gap ,between Kippure and Djouce Mountains cannot be surpassed. The cross roads on the Military Road gives splendid views of the surrounding blanket bog on the Wicklow Mountains The riders will have covered about 14 miles before the hard work begins. And make no mistake this approach to Sally Gap is hard work and gets progressively harder towards the top. Those who rode the Wicklow 200 last year will remember speeding down this road at breath-taking speeds on their way home after a long hard and very hot day. (Guess its payback time).

At the summit of the Sally Gap the route swings right ,still climbing slightly for a few miles, before descending down past the Glenmacnass waterfall into Laragh. There are shops in Laragh. From there its on to Glendalough and the foot of the Wicklow Gap. Glendalough is famed for its beautiful scenery and historic monuments. St. Kevin founded a monastery there in the 6th. Century. The climb over the Wicklow Gap (1,600 ft.) is 5 miles long but unlike the Sally Gap climb the toughest part is at the start (well about one third of the way up). This climb was included in the Tour de France in 1998 . Once over the summit there is a long fast descent down through the forest to Ballinagee Bridge, which will be remembered by devotees of this event as the old first check-point along the rout. It became infamous for the midgets which looked forward to this annual event as their chance to gorge on bare legs and sweat covered brows.

Today the first check point is at the community hall in Valleymount (46 miles). This is our first time to use this facility so watch out for the signs leading to Valleymount. Its just a small quaint village situated on a finger of high ground that stretches across the Blessington Lakes. This change in the course cuts out the many short but stiff climbs around the lake and so contributes to making the Wicklow Gap Challenge easier and shorter. There are shops in Valleymount. Serenely set in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains the Blessington Lakes cover 5,000 acres of tranquil clean water. The Lakes were formed over 50 years ago by the building of the Poulaphouca Dam and hydro-electrical power station and today serve a dual purpose of providing a power and water supply to the Dublin region.

From the check-point at Valleymount the route is along the lake side past Baltey Boys and out onto the N81 (main Blessington /Dublin Road). Its at this point that the Wicklow 200 and Wicklow Gap Challenge riders separate. For the latter it’s a right turn for Blessington and back to the Basketball Arena at Tallaght.( total mileage approx. 60 miles) Riders tackling the full Wicklow 200 will swing left at the N81 junction heading for Hollywood (Baltinglass road). The turn off the main road for Hollywood Glen and on into Donard. Situated to the east of the main N81 road, Donard is a pretty village at the northern end of the Glen of Imaal. There are shops in the village right beside the Check-point which will be in the Donard Enterprise Centre. We used this fine facility for the first time last year and it proved to be very popular Donard may be regarded as the halfway point on the Wicklow 200 course but it should be noted that the second leg is by far the most demanding. It involves several major mountain climbs in very isolated countryside. There are no shops or facilities before the next check-point at Rathdrum. With the ever present potential for adverse weather conditions in these mountains riders are advised to think before embarking on the journey. A rider who is already feeling the pressure should NOT attempt the trip. Far better to return to Tallaght via the N81 and settle for having achieved the Wicklow Gap Challenge and the awards that go with it. Riders who have not reached Donard by 2 o’clock will not have their card stamped and will not be eligible to attempt the full Wicklow 200 course. On leaving the Donard check-point the riders will face a stiff climb up Donard hill along the old route which will take them past the Youth Hostel which for many years served as a check-point. Then its through the tiny village of Knockanarrigan and on past the historic O’ Dwyre Cottage around the base of mighty Lugnaquilla and on to Mullan Cross Roads. Along the way there is the climb over Ballinabarry Gap (1000 ft.) and that is followed by a stiff drag along the side of Corrignamweel (1050 ft.) before mighty Slieve Mann (1,500 ft.) is encountered Then its down to Drumgoff, and on to Greenane and the deceptive twisting drag on route to the check-point at Rathdrum. This is a thriving village very popular with tourists where. shops, pubs, and restaurants abound From Rathdrum its back to Laragh and up past the Glenmacnass Waterfall to Sally Gap (1,650 ft.). At the cross roads at the top of Sally Gap bear straight ahead and make for the Television Mast on Kippure. Then its down by the twin Lough Brays into Glencree. The final climb is up to the viewing point at Killakee (from where there is a panoramic view of Dublin City) and then down into the housing estate in Old Bawn and on to the Basketball Arena at Tallaght.