Orwell Wheelers will be running its annual randonnée this year on Saturday May 5th, an earlier date than usual but over the same challenging route through the Wicklow Mountains.
This year’s event is being run again in support of the Irish Hospice Foundation and is a perfect warm-up for those interested in the Wicklow 200 or for those who simply want to sample the best that the Dublin and Wicklow mountains have to offer.
The randonnée will start and finish at St Benildus College on Upper Kilmacud Road. From there, riders will exit the city via Sandyford before moving to Enniskerry and up towards Glencree. The route then drops down past the Liam Horner memorial before the first big climbing challenge of the day, “the Wall” at Balinagee. Although short, it has an average gradient of 10 per cent and sections kicking up over 20 per cent and even the best climbers will be reaching for their smallest gear.
The climbing continues as the route goes over the side of Djouce before moving on to Luggala and the Eastern approach to the Sally Gap. After that riders will get some respite as they descend into Laragh and proceed onwards towards Rathdrum and then a food stop at Greenane.
After refueling, participants will face their next big test of the day in the form of the Shay Elliot climb at Glenmalure. At 3km in length, with an average gradient of 8 per cent, it will test the legs after a long day in the saddle.
From there, the run home begins, with the route returning through Laragh and on to Roundwood and back over Djouce before descending into Enniskerry and into the city via Stepaside and Sandyford. The full route map can be found here.
There is an entry fee of €25 and will include several water stops along the route with a food stop at the midway point. On completion, hot food, showers, changing facilities and massages for those weary legs will be available. The roads throughout the event will be marshaled by members of Orwell Wheelers.
“We’ve traditionally run our randonnée in August, but following some feedback from last year’s event we’ve decided to move it forward to May,” said event organizer Denis Gleeson. “Everyone loves the route, but a lot of people are keen to have some testing events early on in the season to help them prepare for the Wicklow 200 and the other big sportives later on in the summer.”
Online registration is now open at (www.orwellwheelers.org) with numbers limited to 300.
Start/Finish: St. Benildus College, Upper Kilmacud Road, Dublin 14
Check-In: From 7.45am
Start: 9.00am
Fee: €25
Route: Sandyford, Enniskerry, Glencree, Powerscourt Waterfall, Djouce, Luggala, Sally Gap, Laragh, Rathdrum, lunch stop at Greenane, Shay Elliott, Laragh, Roundwood, Enniskerry, Stepaside, Sandyford. Full details can be found here.
Notes: Non Cycling Ireland members will be required to purchase a one-day licence for insurance purposes. All participants will be required to wear a helmet and abide by the rules of the road.
Contact:
Dick O’Brien, PRO: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 086-8209809
Denis Gleeson, Event Organizer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 0876177311
