Cormac Clarke, leading, tries to shake off yellow jersey and eventual winner Art MacManusa during last year's Newry Three Day (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster).
The organisers of the Newry Three-Day have said entries for the upcoming race are coming in thick and fast and will fill up by this time next week.
The race is fast becoming one of the most popular fixtures on the domestic racing scene and will be held over the last weekend of this month – Friday June 28th to Sunday 30th.
Entries close on June 17th - Monday week - and are non-refundable after the 24th of the month.
The race will be capped at 80 riders on safety grounds and Newry Wheelers will have a reserve list for those who don’t make the initial line-up.
Advertisement
Race organiser Drew McKinley said the event has really taken off in the past few years and that those looking to ride should not delay entering.
“Everyone always says this race is one of the best events of the season and that’s why they keep coming back. It’s a hard race and it has produced some great winners down through the years; the likes of Tommy Evans, Marcus Christie and Sean Downey have all won here. And you just have to see what these kinds of riders have done in their career to give you an idea of how hard it is.”
“It’s a hilly race, a bit like the Tour of Ulster. But you don’t have to be a climber to win. You need to be strong on all four stages over the three days.”
The race is open to A2 and A3 riders only. Last year’s winner was Art MacManusa (South Dublin) but he won’t be racing this year as he has since been upgraded to A1 and featured in a number of breakaways at the recent An Post Rás.
Related News
However, with a strong local contingent always present, they’ll be keen to keep the title in the club.
Irish U23 international, Cormac Clarke was runner-up last year but like MacManusa is now an A1, though Des Woods gave a very good account of himself with some strong performances in the Donegal Three-Day last weekend.
Declan Reid is another who will look to impose himself and he illustrated his form with some selfless riding for Mark Downey on the Ulster team in Donegal.
The Newry Three Day will feature a Friday afternoon stage of 45 miles, with three climbs. A short Saturday morning time-trial of 3 miles will be followed by an afternoon stage of 55 miles, with two climbs.
The final stage on Sunday afternoon is arguably the most difficult and decisive of the lot, at 66 miles. It features a number of category two climbs.
All the stages are based in and around the Newry/Mourne area, with teams of up to five riders. The yellow jersey will be sponsored by the Spin11 clothing company with the mountains jersey sponsored by FPM, the points jersey by McKinley Contracts, while Felix O’Hare will sponsor stages.
McKinley said the race would not be possible but for the work of the PSNI as well as Newry and Mourne Town Council and Haldane Fisher, who sponsor the club as well as stages.
The entry form is available here: http://www.newrywheelers.com/news/newry3dayentryform
Topics
