The Navan Road Club have chosen a well taught course for the Irish Road Race National Championships at the end of the month. I got the chance to drive around the course today and posted this video from DashCam footage.
The figure of eight course is mostly flat but has plenty of undulating terrain that will tire riders out over the length of the race, the club has cleverly placed the start/finish area on a link road inside the circuit.
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NOTE: The video shows the big circuit, however after the last lap, the race then uses the finishing circuit which is a small portion of the big lap. The race will pass the finish line and then complete a short circuit and finish back on the second passing. This extra portion of the race is 17.7 kms (approx.) after completing the laps of the big circuit.
The course is sign posted and easy to navigate if anyone wants to pre-ride the circuit. Yellow Furze is the village the Start/Finish is in if you're trying to find it.
Cautious Warning: While this is the planned route as of 15th June 2025, unforeseen circumstances could make changes to this.
CHAMPIONSHIPS DETAILS
Junior Men Road Race National Championships
Date - Saturday 28th June 2025
Start Time - 09:15
Distance - 117km
Elite Women inc. U23 Road Race National Championships
Date - Saturday 28th June 2025
Start Time - 13:30
Distance - 117km
Junior Women Road Race National Championships
Date - Saturday 28th June 2025
Start Time - 13:35
Distance - 57.6km
Elite Men inc. U23 Road Race National Championships
Date - Sunday 29th June 2025
Start Time - 12:30
Distance - 168.2km
The Cycling Ireland Press Release with details of the events follows
Entries Open now for Irish Road and TT Championships
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The countdown is on for the 2025 Road National Championships. 2024 saw a fantastic weekend of racing, as Fiona Mangan took both the Time Trial and Road Race championship on the women's side, as EF Education EasyPost's Darren Rafferty took the men's Road Race title, with Jayco Alula's Eddie Dunbar taking the TT.
This year will see hosting duties for the Road Race and Time Trial split between three clubs, as the best Irish riders based at home and abroad descend on Meath and Westmeath later this month.
TIME TRIAL
The Time Trial event will be hosted by Lakeside Wheelers in Westmeath and will feature a 25.4km route, which can be found here.
Racing will get underway at 6.30pm on Thursday June 26th, with Race HQ based at Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery Visitor Centre.
Lakeside Wheeler’s Shay O’Toole, race director for the event, said: "Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar is delighted and honoured to be hosting the 2025 National Time Trial Championships on behalf of Cycling Ireland.
The route will track a 25.3km out-and-back course along the R446 through the village of Horseleap, to the edge of Moate, where it will turn on a large roundabout and finish back in Kilbeggan. The surface is in excellent condition with slight undulations, so we expect it to suit good, honest time trialling efforts.
The organising committee are grateful to the management at the Kilbeggan Distillery for facilitating us and wish all competitors the best of luck.”
This year’s TT event will see Para riders feature alongside senior able-bodied categories:
• Junior Women
• Senior Women
• Junior Men
• U23 Men
• Elite Men
• Para B Tandem TT Mixed
• Para C Division TT Mixed
• Para H Division TT Mixed
Para entries are reminded that entries are priced per rider, not per bike in the case of tandems.
ROAD RACE
Attention then turns to road racing, with Navan RC supported by Yellow Furze Road Club hosting on both Saturday and Sunday, June 28th and 29th.
Saturday will see the Junior Men, followed by Elite (inc. U23) Women’s race and Junior Women.
Sunday will then see a combined Elite (inc. U23) Men’s race.
Each race will see a neutralised start of 4km, and the full routes are available below.
Junior Women
Junior Men
Elite/U23 Women
Elite/U23 Men
Navan’s Naill Doggett said: "We are really excited to be hosting this year’s Road Races.
Navan Road Club along with our neighbours Yellow Furze Road Club are co-hosting the races. The cooperation has been brilliant in this regard, with a great team working behind the scenes.
The circuit promises to be an exciting one, with a mixture of fast, rolling roads & short climbs. It’s going to be wide-open regarding potential winners.
After the recent edition of Rás Tailteann starting & finishing in Co Meath, there's a real buzz around the cycling scene in the area.
Junior Men, Women Elite & U23 Route 117kms
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We are really hopeful of attracting large crowds to both days racing. The circuit is easily accessible from Dublin and other major routes.
We're right in the heart of the beautiful Boyne Valley, with iconic locations such as Newgrange, Tara, Slane, only a stone’s throw from the circuit.
We have changed the schedule slightly too, giving the Junior Women's race a more visible platform on the Saturday afternoon. It’s important for us to make these races accessible & attractive to all riders.
Senior Elite Men & U23 Route 168kms
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Sunday is reserved for the Elite & U23 Men's race, with a tough 168km of racing ahead.
Hosting this event wouldn't be possible without the support Meath Co Council, who's help has been incredible.
Meath is known as The Royal County, let's see this going to be crowned Kings & Queens this year."
A look back at the 2024 Winner of the Elite Road Race - Darren Rafferty
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Entries for Time-Trial National Championships and Road Race National Championships are now open on the Cycling Ireland website - click here