Colm Cassidy (Aquablue) blitzed the time-trial and won the overall at the Ballinrobe 2-Day last year but if he is to defend his title in 2016 he'll have to do it over three road stages - and in May, following a major overhaul of the race. (Picture Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
The Ballinrobe 2-day is to have a complete overhaul of its race format with the structure and timing of the race getting a makeover.
The popular Mayo-based stage-race is to be brought forward from August to the May Bank Holiday weekend – and lengthened by an extra day.
It will compete against the likes of the O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk three-day as well as the Tour of Ulster on that already busy weekend.
It’s a brave move by the host club, Western Lakes CC, but they feel that to justify the effort and expense of promoting such an event, the least they hope for is a big field – and a May date guarantees that according to club spokesperson David McDermott.
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“We just felt that holding a stage race in August was becoming increasingly more difficult to attract riders; people just no longer seem to want to race in August and with such a large distance between Rás Muhmun and the An Post Rás we felt this was the best time to try it,” he said.
“In relation to clashing with the aforementioned races he said, the Tour of Ulster always sells out fairly quickly so that shouldn’t affect us too much and in most years a large group of riders from Connacht clubs head to Cork for Kanturk.
“We’d obviously be hoping they stay local and from the feedback we’ve gotten from the local clubs it’s all very positive,” he added.
Registration will be open in the coming days on the club's website and though exact route details are yet to be finalised, there will be no time-trial but there will be three road stages in excess of 110 kilometres.
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