Next Sunday Slaney CC host the third annual Mount Leinster Challenge leisure event sponsored this year by Enniscorthy Credit Union. With the beautiful Mount Leinster area on its doorstep the club has designed a 150km and 100km ride to take in the fabulous scenery and incredible climbs of Wexford and South County Carlow.
Like a runner completing a marathon the event is a personal challenge not a race. There are no winners or losers – everyone who completes a challenging event like the Mount Leinster Challenge has succeeded.
This years event will start at Bellefield GAA complex with sign on from 8.30am and start at 9.30am sharp. The route takes in Kilealy, Ballymurphy, Borris, Bagnalstown, Myshall, the steep climbs of the Corrabutt Gap and the Nine Stones to Mount Leinster followed by the 50 mph descent to the feedstop at Kiltealy. The longer route option then takes in Halfway House and Bunclody before climbing the Mount Leinster again via Kilbranish. The weary riders will then return to Bellefield for a welcome cuppa. (or pint!).
As usual the club would like to express our thanks to our good friends at Bellefield GAA complex for the use of their facilities for the sign on and finish. We are also delighted to have the facilities at Kiltealy hall available again this year for the main feed stop and would like to thank the Kiltealy hall committee for their assistance. Thanks to Ann Jordan, Phil Bowe and Mary Ruth who are again preparing the food for the hungry cyclists. The club also appreciates the work of the club sub committee which put this years event together. Can any members not taking part make themselves available to help out on the day.
The response received from riders in the 2006 and 2007 event was amazing. One of the many emails we recieved last year commented “It was one of the best cycling days I’ve ever had in Ireland. Great circuit, quiet roads, and the food was fabulous.” Riders from around the country have taken part, many of them using the event as preparation for the famous Etape de Tour, the mountainous stage of the Tour de France which attracts up to 10,000 leisure cyclists in July.
We hope to see many of the participants back in Enniscorthy in July for our Tour de France commemoration ride to Cork.