The Junior of Ireland is set to unfold on the roads of Co Clare next week and after a few years during which the race was cancelled and then ran with a smaller field, it has definitely rebounded for 2023.
The best of Irish, including an Irish National Team and regional selections, will go up against visitors from overseas, including the US and Britain, for stage wins, the final yellow jersey and a whole host of other honours.
Just three Irish cyclists have won the event over the last 20 years - Sam Bennett, Eddie Dunbar and Ben Walsh - and with the crop of junior talent currently racing on the domestic scene it is hoped they can be at the front and getting the better of the international riders.
This year's event is the 43rd edition and will be run under race director Alice Sherratt and with the title sponsorship of EuroCycles EuroBaby. 'The JT' as it is affectionately known, will see the riders race 520km over over six stages from next Tuesday, July 11th, to Sunday, July 16th.
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While the start list has not yet been unveiled, there are 135 riders down to rider, which is back to the levels we saw before the pandemic struck and forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 edition. The Junior Tour made a welcome return to roads of Co Clare last year, won by US rider Andrew August (Hot Tubes), who won the US junior TT title two weeks ago.
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Teams are traveling from the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Isle of Man, Netherlands and Portugal to take on the Irish. The race commences next Tuesday evening with a short and sharp 48km opener, starting and finishing in Barefield.
Stage 2 sees the riders take on a 103km stage out to the west coast by Spanish Point, Lahinch, Cliffs of Moher, Corrofin and finishing on the Ennis bypass. Stage 3 travels from Ennis westbound to Kilkee, a stage of 93.7 kilometres along the Shannon Estuary through Kilrush and onto the Wild Atlantic Way at Kilkee Cliffs before the fast finish into the seaside town.
Stage 4 is 111.7 kilometres and an adjusted stage from previous years based in the north of the county. Aillwee Caves play host to this years event for both the start and finish as the race departs on its usual early loop via Carron before racing through the Burren, Ballyvaughan and onto the Coast road for Doolin where the climb of Doonagore (Castle Hill) awaits. From there the riders will race back through the Burren via Lemenagh Castle before tackling the short steep finish to the entrance of Aillwee Cave.
Stage 5 is 87.5 kilometres and sees the riders travel into East Clare along the Tulla Road to Tuamgraney and Scarriff where a number of climbs greet the riders on the same roads as Rás Tailteann this year via Maghera, Crusheen and finishing at Barefield.
Finally stage 6 remains the same as previous years with 8 laps of a circuit on the outskirts of Ennis taking in the Kilrush road, Ballyea and racing back in the Kildysert road to finish at the Watertower on Clonroadbeg.
