Irish cycling setback as Visit Nenagh Classic cancelled. Down the years it has become one of the very biggest road races in the country. The winners' list is a whose who of Irish cycling yet it has been cancelled for this year. Above, Tim Barry takes the second Visit Nenagh main event in 2013. He also won the previous year.
Blow to Irish cycling as Visit Nenagh cancelled
Irish cycling has suffered a setback as one of the biggest races of the year, the Visit Nenagh Classic, has been cancelled.
The race has become one of the biggest on the domestic calendar in just a few short years.
It has become a weekend of racing, with a team time trial on Saturday and the main ‘classic’ race the following day.
Also on Sunday, a number support races have been run. The circuit is testing and it immediately became a coveted victory to take.
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The racing this year had been due to take place on the weekend of April 14th and 15th. It was also part of the National Road Series.
However, as has been the case for some other races, the event has lost its sponsor. As a result, this year’s edition is off.
The announcement was made by race director Michael Butler.
“It is with great regret that I have to announce the cancellation of the planned 2018 Visit Nenagh weekend of cycling,” Butler said said.
“The sudden departure of our head sponsor for the past three years has left too large a gap in our funds to successfully run the 2018 edition.
“We are currently working hard to obtain sponsors in order to host the events again in 2019.”
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Eve McCrystal and Eddie Dunbar; both have won twice at Visit Nenagh (Photos by Sean Rowe)
It is the latest in a series of road race cancellations to hit Irish cycling of late.
The Newbridge GP races were due to take place on St Patrick’s Day. Organisers Newbridge CC said they missed the deadline to apply for their regular date.
And while Cycling Ireland allotted the race into March 17th, parades and other events for the national holiday meant holding a race in the area was not possible.
The Seven Springs GP is also off; the organisers citing finance and volunteer shortages.
Three-day stage race Rás Dhun na nGall is also not going ahead. And there are fears it will not return.
News the race is cancelled for this year comes as a blow to the home scene, which is already under pressure.
Rás Tailteann, Rás na mBan and the Junior Tour are all currently looking for sponsors.
And the Irish Continental level team An Post-Chainreaction has also lost its sponsors and is not operating this year.
Visit Nenagh Classic six years
The Visit Nenagh Classic weekend was first run in 2012. It was widely regarded as one of the best organised events of the year.
It has been won by some of the country’s top riders. Names on the winners’ trophy include Tim Barry (twice), Eoin Morton, Paidi O’Brien, Damien Shaw and Mark Dowling.
The women’s race winners include Aideen Keenan, Eve McCrystal (twice) and Fiona Meade.
The support race has also been won by some of the best emerging young Irish riders; Ryan Mullen, Eddie Dunbar and Ben Walsh among them.
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