1,600 mile Irish bike race, with a 1,378 mile stage, is now underway
This 2,200km stage along the Wild Atlantic Way awaits the riders after they reach Derry tonight having set out from Dublin this morning. Click on image for larger version.
You may not have heard of it, but the Trans Atlantic Way 2,200km single-stage bike race is underway in Ireland.
It takes the riders from Dublin to Cork via Derry and Donegal and along the length of the Wild Atlantic Way.
The riders rolled out of the Phoenix Park, Dublin, this morning; Thursday, June 8th.
They are racing from Dublin to Derry, where they must register at the first of three checkpoints.
That checkpoint is located on the Peace Bridge over the Foyle in the heart of Derry City.
From Derry they then head further north into Donegal, all the way to Malin Head.
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And from there they ride all the way down the country to Kinsale at the opposite end of the island.
However, while phase 1 from Dublin to Derry is done at a route of each riders’ choosing, phase 2 is a fixed route.
The riders must hug the coastline as they go, taking in the Wild Atlantic Way.
It means they will be exposed to the wind off the Atlantic.
And if it continues blowing a gale and teeming down rain as it was at the time of writing, there won’t be too many jokes along the way.
Teaser from first edition last year
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When the riders complete the substantive part of the race, on the fixed Wild Atlantic Way route from Derry to Kinsale, there then follows a short phase 3.
Each rider will take their preferred route from Kinsale to Cork for the official finish at Blarney Castle.
There were 96 riders schedule to start; 90 solo riders and three sets of pairs.
At the time of writing – 8.30pm on Thursday – Luke Allen was leading the field.
The British rider was in Greencastle, Co Donegal; just about to reach the most northerly point of the race to commence his massive ride south.
His speed when stickybottle checked his live tracker was 9.1mph; no surprise considering the rain and breeze and the fact he was going uphill.
Allen already had 167 miles ridden and had averaged 17.7mph.
However, the main stage – phase 2 along the Wild Atlantic Way - is 1,378 miles.
It is billed as the longest single-stage bike race in the country.
All told, when the three phases are combined, the event is about 1,600 miles.
During the race all responsibility lies with each rider to be totally self-sufficient.
The organisers help with logistics, by offering two nights accommodation; one at the start and one at the finish.
They also offer a bag and/or bike box drop at the start, and transfer of bags to the finish.
We’ll check back in over coming days, with the race due for conclusion on Sunday.
In the meantime, check the event’s site right here and have a look at the riders in the field by clicking here.
You can also follow the tracker charting all the riders’ progress in real time by following this link.
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