Eugene Moriarty in action at the Tour of Ulster last year; the race survives thanks for Carn Wheelers (Photo: Marian Lamb, Cycling Ulster)
Just a couple of weeks after it emerged the Tour of Ulster would be missing from the domestic calendar next year, Carn Wheelers have stepped in to take control and keep the event alive.
The three-day has been run by the Ulster Cycles Promotions Club. It held its AGM last month at which it was decided there was insufficient volunteer support to the run the race in a professional manner.
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The organisers were experiencing specific difficulties in sourcing civilian motorbike marshals to offer support to the PSNI motorbikes normally assigned to the race.
It was announced shortly after the AGM that because of those problems, the race would not be going ahead next year. However, just days later it emerged a number of clubs had begun talks to try and save the event. And now it has been confirmed that the race will go ahead next year on the May Bank Holiday Weekend as usual – May 4th to 6th.
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In a statement Carn Wheelers said it was proud to announce that it would be running the event in 2013, adding: “The race fits neatly into the calendar in preparation for the Rás so rather than see the race disappear Carn Wheelers will take over for next year to take the race on demanding roads which have never before been raced on.”
While planning is still in the early stages, the club has said the Sunday stage will see the Patsy O'Connor Cup awarded to the stage winner around Clann Eireann's Tour of Armagh route.
Further information will be released in due course on www.carnwheelers.co.uk For those requiring further details, Aidan Higgins can be reached at [email protected]
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