Martyn Irvine left his rivals for dust on the climb of Glenmalure on the way to winning the Shay Elliott Memorial last year. The former world track champion and road pro has since retired so a new name will be inscribed on this year's trophy (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
The Shay Elliott Memorial has been given something of a makeover ahead of the 59th edition of the race on Sunday, May 15th, with new routes and new sponsors set to attract another stellar field.
It’s always a hard-fought affair with the climb of Glenmalure often proving decisive.
But riders racing the combined A1 and A2 event will have to contend with three laps of a 21-kilometre circuit before hitting it this year.
The circuits themselves are not overly difficult, but there is a slight rise each time and on hard roads before the day’s major climb it’ll sap the energy right out of anyone not on a good day.
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After Glenmalure there’s the fast descent down towards Glendalough and onto Laragh to a new race finish at Djouce via Boleynass, where the riders are expected to finish between 1.30pm (A3-Junior) and 3pm (A1-A2).
With the retired Martyn Irvine having won the race last year, a new name will go on the trophy and there should be a whole list of riders relishing the chance to add their names to the roll of honour.
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Sean Kelly, Martin Early, Philip Cassidy, David McCann, Malcolm Elliott, Dan Craven, Tim Barry, Ciaran Power, Philip Lavery and Damien Shaw are just some of those who have won the event in the past.
The other race on the day will be the separate A3-Junior event and that’ll be contested over an 89-kilometre circuit.
It will also take in the climb of Glenmalure with the only difference being they won’t race the three-lap circuit.
The organisers received a major boost ahead of the event with the news that New Ireland Assurance is to sponsor the racing.
“We are delighted that New Ireland Assurance are supporting our ambition to continually develop the race which now caters for the top A1 and A2 riders in the country and those coming up through the A3 and junior ranks,” said John Spain, chairman of Bray Wheelers CC.
“It takes a tough rider to win either race and the undulating terrain and climb over Glenmalure, where both races pass the Shay Elliott Memorial and where the King of the Mountains jersey will be contested, is guaranteed to be decisive,” he added.
Spectators planning on watching the race unfold at Glenmalure will need to allow time to take a viewing spot by 12.25pm for the A3-Junior race, with the riders in the A1 and A2 race scheduled to follow around an hour later.
For more information on the race click here or to see the new A1-A2 route click here.
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