Cycling Ireland says road races cancelled in dispute with promoters
Sean Lacey winning the final stage of the Bogman Two Day last year. It is one of the races off this year after a dispute between Western Lakes CC and Cycling Ireland (Photo: www.jimmymcelroy.com)
Cycling Ireland has confirmed that two stage races and several on-day events have been cancelled following a dispute with a Connacht club.
Western Lakes CC, which is based in Co Mayo, wanted to run its popular Ballinrobe Three Day on the May Bank Holiday weekend.
It was held in August for 13 years as a two-day, but last year it was brought forward to May.
However, Cycling Ireland wanted the club to revert back to August date saying the Bank Holiday weekend in May was already a busy time with other races.
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The Tour of Ulster and Kanturk Three Day are both on that weekend as well as a number of one-day races in Wexford over consecutive days and in Tyrone.
The national federation is making efforts to spread road racing more evenly across the season.
Some races held in the first months of the campaign have been moved back to the end of the summer in a bid to prolong the season.
However, Western Lakes CC said its holding the Ballinrobe Three Day in May last year had created a precedent. It added under Cycling Ireland rules once that precedent had been set the date was reserved.
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And when resolution could not be found it decided to withdraw from promoting a total of 10 open races this year.
They include, among others: the Ballinrobe Three Day, Bogman Two Day, John Holian Memorial, Tourmakeady Festival Race and Claremorris Criterium.
Cycling Ireland released a statement today saying it wished to clarify the “regrettable cancellation” of the Ballinrobe Three Day and other races by the club.
“It resulted from a clash with two other established races held over the May Bank Holiday Weekend in 2016,” it said of the cancellation of the Ballinrobe event.
“The Ballinrobe stage race is a popular event that had been organised in August for a number of years.”
It said its move to May was met with objections which were upheld by the governing body on a number of grounds.
While dates would be reserved on the race calendar for established races before race applications were sought from promoters, Cycling Ireland suggested the Ballinrobe Three Day being run in May did not meet those criteria under its rules.
It said the “definition of an establish race as outlined in our technical rules” was one run “on the same date, weekend or specific holiday for a period in excess of five years”.
The federation’s statement added: “Cycling Ireland engaged with all parties in order to seek a compromise but was unable to reach an agreement.
“The consequence on being asked to move the Ballinrobe Three Day Road Race to another date in the calendar was unacceptable to Western Lakes CC, who regrettably cancelled other planned racing events for by the club for 2017.
“Cycling Ireland would like to recognise the contribution of Western Lakes CC to promoting cycling in Connaught and will endeavour to review its calendar rules with the aim of offering greater flexibility in the future.”
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