Tour of Inishowen July 10th

Garret Connolly
Topic Author
Offline

8 years 5 months ago #15760 by Garret Connolly

Tour of Inishowen July 10th was created by Garret Connolly

Hi All

Did you try and fail to register for ROK in July? Are you training for a Raid, Etape or something tough? Are you nuts enough?
www.facebook.com/pages/North-Pole-Cyclin...owen/134477946748847

The Tour of Inishowen is by far the toughest 1 day sportif I've ever done in Ireland and requires a certain nutter mentality to even contemplate doing it however if you make it around in 1 piece you'll forever remember the glorious unspoiled roads and coastline of Ireland's most beautiful northern coastline in Inishowen Co Donegal.

This is particularly tough and if you're a sportif 1st timer I would warn against it. It's aimed at veterans of spins like the Randonee, W200, Sean Kelly etc and is absolutely brilliant training for a Raid, Etape, Marmotte etc etc. I did this in 2010 and it broke me in half. I even had to walk slowly up the last hill of the day(doesn't happen that often).

The sportif is on Sunday July 10th starting and finishing in Buncrana. It's 160km and has 2000+m in climbing but bar the flat 30km to Muff at the start it's 1 climb after another. The big highlights are the climbs in Kinnegoe Bay, Malin Head and finally after 150km(very cruel) they send you over Mamore Gap(2.5km at 20-25% gradient).

There is definitely at least 10 both guys and girls already confirmed for it and as far as I know sign on is on the morning. (no online booking yet) They are extremely friendly bunch up in Buncrana and always delighted to see a bunch of Dubs head up. Back in 2010 there was about 200 starters and it's a great friendly spin.
A small bunch of us did it last year and we all loved it!

Accom is in plentiful supply in Buncrana and feel free to book yourself in to the various houses, hostel, hotels etc. It's also about 1/2 the price of accom in Killarney so a great alternative to the ROK.

This is a bucket list cycle in Ireland and should be worth a gazillion points on the leisure calender but it is a Grand Tour event so it will have to settle for 10points. It will also qualify for 1 point on the Randonneur Medal.

I'll be the point person for this one, alongside the Tralee weekend away and also one of the points of contact for Wicklow 200 and the Alps Classic Cols so pop up a question if you have any.

In the meantime if you feel you have the right nutter mentality start booking yourselves in to accommodation etc. A few of us have booked into the Inishowen Gateway Hotel for July 9th and 10th, Big dinner post sportif on July 10th.

Full details have been announced for the Tour of Inishowen sportif on July 10th www.facebook.com/North-Pole-Cycling-Club...wen-134477946748847/
Strava from last year here www.strava.com/activities/345255946.

I think it's Ireland's most picturesque place. You will absolutely love it.. Rooms are short supply(big wedding venue but has a full leisure centre with pool, sauna, steam room etc etc) so book soon. Also if it is booked out check out other hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels and airbnbs in Inishowen. All of them are within walking distance of the cycle HQ.

Garret