Mount Leinster Challenge 2010  - by Liam Ruth

February 14, 2008

The 2010 Mount Leinster Challenge takes place on Saturday 15th May 

Pictures of 2010 event taken by Bill Jordan are available here: http://pix.ie/liamr/album/377761 Many thanks to all 250+ riders who took part. It was a great day and we look forward to 2011! 

This year’s event takes place on Saturday 15th May 2010. Rest assured every thing stays the same -the same painful climbs of Mount Leinster and the same great feedstop in Kiltealy await you! We hope to see many of last years over 130 participants join us again this year and we’ve been delighted to recieve enquiries from the UK and the US about the event. If you haven’t ridden it before then join us in May and discover there’s more to Wexford than sandy beaches!

This is the fifth edition of the Mount Leinster and it has increased in popularity each year. The Mount Leinster Challenge helps fund Slaney CC’s racing and under age cycling activities. This year Slaney CC will have teams in the Gorey 3 day, Rás Mumhan, Tour of Ulster and 2 riders competing in the FBD Rás as part of Team Wexford.  We also promote novice and underage racing and have members preparing for an the Marmotte in July. All proceeds will be ploughed back into local cycling.

Route Maps

140km Route      

 

100km Route     

 

The Main Details: Sign on from 8.00am. Riders roll out at 9.30am. Entry Fee €25 with Cycling Ireland Membership (One day licence €10). All participants will recieve “goodie bag” at sign, access to facilities at Bellefield GAA Complex, food stop at Kiltealy, drinks stop on mountain and medal on completion.  please read the more detailed information below.

Any questions? Contact secretary@slaneycyclingclub.com 

Event Information

• Thanks to everyone who has contacted us so far regarding the event. If you are doing the event please drop us a email to secretary@slaneycyclingclub.com and let us know. As there is no pre entry it would assist us greatly in planning for the food stops and does not commit you if you can’t make it.

• We are aware that the winter weather has taken its toll on some of the mountain roads. Carlow County Council is repairing the road surface of the Corrabutt Gap at present. We will carry out further checks on the route going forward to try and ensure a safe ride for all.

• Training Plan: If you intend riding the Mount Leinster Challenge but need a training plan to get you fit for the event there’s quite a useful plan on the On Your Bike site. Intended as part of plan to prepare for this years L’Etape it includes the MLC as one of the training goals. It’s particularily suitable for those who can only get out on the bike a couple of times a week.  On Your Bike are the company Bill and Mick rode with at last years etape and come highly recommended. Just Click HERE

• Accommodation: A list of approved accommodation in the Enniscorthy are is available HERE from the Discover Ireland website. If you have any queries on where they are in relation to the sign on/start venue just email us!

• We also recommend The Riverside Park Hotel  ,053 9237900, who are long term sponsors of our Eddie Tobin Memorial road race and Rosecrest, Summerhill, Enniscorthy, 053 9235131, a cyclist friendly guesthouse! Both are within 1km of the start and finish venue.

• Joachim Lissner from Germany has prepared an excellent Event Summary of the major cyclo sportives taking place all over Europe. Joachim made contact wishing to include details of the Mount Leinster Challenge and we have included a link to his event summary below. Danke sehr viel,  Joachim. EVENT SUMMARY

 

• Event Details 

• Entry Fee €25 for Cycling Ireland members. Non Cycling Ireland members will also require a one day Cycling Ireland licence costing €10 which will be issued on the day. Entries accepted on the Day at sign on from 8.00am. Riders roll out together at 9.30am. Helmets are compulsory.

• Venue: Bellefield GAA Complex, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Medals will be presented here on completion of the event.

• Free onsite parking, toilets, shower and changing facilities, tea & coffee.

• Please follow marshalls instructions and park at the side of the GAA complex and on the adjacent training fields. Its important we don’t block access to the club while we’re away on the cycle.

• Both distance groups will start together at 9.30am sharp. As there is a roundabout and short steep hills and descents at the beginning of the ride, the cycle will be neutralised for the first 5kms to get the bunch safely out of town. All riders MUST stay behind the lead vehicle and respect marshalls advice. They are there for YOUR safety.

• The Mount Leinster Challenge is NOT a race. Riders are free to travel at their own pace but normal rules of the road apply at all times. Riders should not be more than two abreast at any time and must not cross the white line. Please be courteous to other traffic and pedestrians. While marshalls may assist at some road junctions, they are there to provide directional assistance and you must rely on your own judgement as regards your safety. The roads will be marked wiith yellow direction arrows marked MLC.

• In particular riders should observe EXTREME CAUTION when descending from Mount Leinster. The first half of the descent is open and fast and riders can attain very high speeds. While the road surface is quite good be aware that potholes may have opened and there is also a risk of sheep on the road. There are two cattle grids on the descent. They are well maintained and can be ridden safely but riders should brake well in advance. After the cattle grids the road narrows with high hedges on each side and becomes twisty and riders should exercise extra care. Be aware the road is fully open and you may meet traffic travelling in the opposite direction.

• The main feeding station will be in Kiltealy at the community centre. Riders will pass through Kiltealy after descending Mount Leinster on the 100km route and a second time on the 140km route. There will also be a water only stop on the mountain itself at the Nine Stones car park.

• There will be several marshalls/service cars  and first aid personell following the event. These will move up and down the route over the day. If you are in any difficulty alert the marshalls who will try to assist.

• Slaney CC is very proud of the fantastic scenery and environment of the Mount Leinster area. Please respect the countryside by not littering and bring any rubbish to the feed station where it will be disposed of.

• Finally – Enjoy yourself! What you are achieving today ordinary members of the public could only dream about. Be proud of your achivement and have a great day

 (click to enlarge) Lance Armstrong and the Tour of Ireland pro peloton cross Mount Leinster on a glorious day last August. It was a beautiful day and the mountain was packed with spectators (not obvious from this Graham Watson image!). It was the only time I ever saw a traffic jam and huge tailbacks on the mountain that didn’t involve sheep blocking the road!

• Some comments from 2009

Emails – Many thanks to those of you who took time to send emails after the MLC 2009

Hi Liam. Just want to drop you a line and say thank you for a great day yesterday, but a wet one. Four of us from Sportif Waterford CC done the 100km. Best food stop ever. Thanks to everyone involved —see you next year.  NH-Waterford

Lads and ladies, Just a quick note to thank everyone concerned with organising yesterdays event. Despite the weather the day was great craic and thanks to the ladies in Kiltealy for a most welcome lunch stop. (unfortunately our over indulgence on the apple muffins slowed us down a bit after lunch!!) Hope to see you next year. If we could make one small suggestion for next time – Bribe the gods and sort the weather next year!!!!!! Best regards, JL-Dublin

Hi to all at SCC. Just a quick note to say many thanks form at least one very satisfied customer.
Sure the weather was against us (More like a day in January) but no conspiracy of the gods could upset such a well organized event. Every part of the event from sign on to finish was well done but I think that the FEAST STOP was second to none I have encountered. A huge sense of achievement was felt at finishing 140k and conditions only contributed to it.
Again, many thanks and I sure hope to see you all again next year. Yours in Pain and Rain. BC-Killarney

Hi Liam. Just a quick email to say thanks for a really well organised event. I didn’t get a chance to say thanks after the event as Brian Cowan was leaving at the time and I didn’t fancy trying to get past the guards and hand shaking suits.
I have to mention that the food at Kiltealy was fantastic and although I didn’t need it the lads said that the mechanical and medical backup was brilliant. I am looking forward to next year but could you please arrange for some sunny weather………… Thanks again Best regards. CC-Carlow 

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Cresting the Corrobutt Gap

• CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES FROM THE MOUNT LEINSTER CHALLENGE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• Enniscorthy – The finest place in the world?

 

• IN ULYSSES James Joyce referred to Enniscorthy, in Co Wexford as “the finest place in the world”. What a marketing dream. But there’s a reason why the quote hasn’t appeared on Irish tourism posters from Tokyo to Tallahassee. The eejit placed the town in the wrong county. The actual quote, from the Ithaca chapter, reads: “Enniscorthy, County Wicklow, the finest place in the world.” But the big-hearted people of Co Wexford clearly don’t bear grudges, and the novel is prominently displayed in Byrne’s Bookshop, on Court Street…….

 Click here for the full article about Enniscorthy from the Irish Times 28/2/09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. What is the Mnt. Leinster Challenge?  The Mnt. Leinster Challenge is leisure/cyclo spotif event to include at least one ascent of our Mont Ventoux – Mount Leinster. The climb has been used in numerous FBD Ras and has often been the deciding factor on the 2nd last day of the Ras not least in 2004 when David McCann attacked on the descent to gain a race winning lead in to Tullow and overall victory in the RAS.The 2007 edition will see the inclusion of the Corribut.
   
2. Where do we start and end?  The rides will all start and finish in Bellefield GAA complex and all routes include a good refreshment stop in Kiltealy with hot beverages and food. Entry Fee €20 on day
   
3. How do I get to the start?  From N11 (Dublin) take third exit at Dublin road roundabout (direction Kiltealy). Follow road towards town, straight at mini roundabout, until T junction opposite Pettits Supermarket. Take right turn, Bellefield GAA ground is about 300m on left. From N11 (Wexford) head north to Dublin road roudabout and follow directions above. From N25 (New Ross) turn left at Arnolds Cross ( after Old Mill, direction 1798 centre) and follow road into town direction Kilkenny. 

The Route

From the start in Ennycorthy, travel along the R702 to Kiltealy and then on to Borris.
At Borris, turn right on to R705 in the directon of Bagnalstown. Distance +- 12.8km (8mls)

From Bagnalstown head to Fenagh, distance +- 8.7km (5.4mls).

From Fenagh  head out on the R724 to Myshal, distance +- 5.7km (3.5mls).

From Myshal head out for +- 1km (0.6mls) and take the first left then after +- 560m (612yrds), turn right on to the Corributt.

As you head over the top of the Corributt Gap, take the first right +- 250m (273yrds) after the viewing point.

Head up to the Nine Stones from here and then enjoy a great descent (watch out for the cattle grids), turning left at the stop street at the bottom.

From here, you’re heading back to Kiltealy and the feeding station. If you’re doing the 100km event, you will ead back to Enniscorthy for a well deserved rest.

For the 150km riders, The route continues out form Kiltealy along the R702 and then left on to the R746 heading to Bunclody.

DIVERSION 2009 : Due to roadworks in Bunclody the event will take an alternate route, turning LEFT after passing thru the small village of Halfway House. Road will be clearly marked.  

Going through Bunclody, take the 2nd left, signposted Mnt. Leinster. From here you have +- 11.4km (7mls) to the top of the mountain and a second go at that great descent!

Once again, turn left at the bottom and head back to Kiltealy and then the last bit back to Enniscorthy.

Training:

The 150km is intended for regular, fit cyclists and we won’t try to offer them advice! The shorter 100km route is within the capabilities of any cyclist willing to put in a liitle training before hand to make their day more enjoyable and hope the following will be of assistance.

Your aim should be to reach a level where you can undertake your chosen distance and complete it easily while enjoying a great day out in the countryside

Our cycling challenges are designed for people of average fitness, but you do have to be prepared to train!  This should start several months before the Challenge, and we hope the following notes will help you.

Before starting any training programme you should consult your Doctor

** Remember – without training, you may not be able to complete this Challenge. **

All of the advice included in this document are rough training guides.  Obviously with family, work and fundraising commitments you may not be able to achieve what we have set out for you.  However, in order to get close to achieving your training it is vital you organise your time properly.  There are many ways to ensure your time is maximised even of you feel that you have no time outside of work.

• Organise your week to make sure you get out and do something!

• Try and get up an hour earlier and take a quick cycle before work. 

• If you can cycle to work, do so.  If you can’t cycle the whole distance, why not cycle part of the distance and leave your bike at a bus/train station and take public transport for the rest of the journey.  You must obviously be happy with leaving your bike in a safe and secure place.U

• Use your lunch hour to take a brisk walk or cycle around the immediate area.

• Find some steep stairs (four or five floors in an office block or department store) and climb them five times, at least three times per week.

• Squash, swimming, fast walking and any other sport will also help you to get prepared.

• Joining a leisure centre is always a good idea as you will have access to fitness instructors who can design a fitness programme for you.  Most gyms have exercise bikes where you can clock up mileage safely and comfortably.  But, do try and cycle as much as possible in ‘real’ conditions.  The more you train in similar conditions to your event (terrain and weather) the better. 

• It is important at weekends to get to some ‘hilly’ parts of the country to experience cycling on different surfaces and gradients.

• You should try and make the time to cycle on some consecutive long days. 

• Nothing will prepare you for your event better than actually getting on a bike and cycling!

• You may not hold fast to this guide, but you do need to keep it in mind and do regular exercise.

**You will enjoy your chosen event far more if you are physically fit.**