Irish Cycling News 2000

BELFAST - DUBLIN - BELFAST

RE-RUNNING OF HISTORIC CYCLE RACE

A two-day cycle race from Belfast to Dublin and back, commemorating the first ever multi-stage race held in Ireland, will be held on the weekend of September 2/3 .  In 1950 the Belfast to Dublin single day race, which had been running since 1947, was made into a two day event by adding a return leg and so became the first multi-stage cycle race in Ireland. This ground breaking event sparked a rask of imitations in the following years and only four years later in 1954 there were two week-long races being promoted, the Tour of Ireland and the Ras Tailteann.

The Ulster Cycle Promotions Club, which over the years has put on such events as the Tour of Ulster, The Northern Ireland Milk Race and the Raleigh City Centre Series is commemorating that pioneering event with a recreation of the original race, following, where possible, much of the original route. The Irish News, which put up the trophy for the first Belfast - Dublin is sponsoring the anniversary promotion.  Teams have been invited from the Irish Cycling Federation, the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation, the Ulster Cycling Federation and the other three ICF regions as well as to several cross-Channel clubs and it is hoped that a major event, late in the season, will be well supported by the top Irish riders.

The race will start at Belfast City Hall on Saturday, September 3 and after being neutralised out of the city the route will be via Lisburn, Dromore, Banbridge, Newry, Dundalk, Ardee, Slane, Ashbourne and Dublin finishing at Glasnevin. Sunday's route will be the same in reverse with the finish at Stranmillis Embankment. At the Press Launch in Belfast, Seamus McGreevy, chairman of the Haldane Fisher Newry Wheelers club, told of taking part in that historic first stage race. Road racing then was a comparatively new sport and competitors spent most of the season competing on grass tracks at sports meetings. In contrast with the 18/20 gear bikes used in road racing today,. Seamus rode to Dublin and back on a 88 inch fixed gear.

The inaugural event was won by the late Karl McCarthy of UCC Cork CC who went on to score a hat trick of wins in the following years. Karl later became president of the Irish Cycling Federation.  Sam Simpson, Irish News' Marketing Manager said :'Fifty years ago the Irish News supported what must have been a very challenging and innovative event. We are delighted to be able to sponsor the 'golden anniversary' of the race and look forward to seeing today's top riders competing in this historic event'.

C/O Irish News Belfast.