The Junior Tour is one of the longest-running cycling events in the country and it always attracts a stellar field of riders from around the world. Many of those who've ridden it have gone on to have distinguished careers (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
The organisers of the Scott Bicycles Junior Tour of Ireland have announced entries are now open for the five-day race, which commences on July 14th and runs until the 19th.
This year’s edition - and indeed the long term future of the race - looked to be in jeopardy late last year.
Surplus funding saved from the boom times before the economic crash had been exhausted in recent leaner years and the race was also without a title sponsor.
However some monumental fundraising over the last number of months, in the shape of donations to a trust fund and by members of the cycling community organising sportives, had secured the race's short term future.
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And when Sutcliffe came on board with a six-figure sponsorship deal over a six-year period, the event was put on perhaps is strongest financial footing ever.
Scott Bicycles is the new title sponsor and the Eurocycles-Eurobabies retail chain is backing the points jersey; Sutcliffe distributes the former and is the owner of the latter.
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County Clare is again the venue for the race – and we’ll have full stage details in the coming days.
The race organisers tell stickybottle there is already very strong interest from foreign teams and riders as the entries for the event officially open.
Teams from the US, South Africa, France, Scotland, the Netherlands and the UK have already confirmed they will be in Ireland for the showdown.
And they will all be hoping to break the stranglehold of the Irish national team which has won the race in the past two years through Eddie Dunbar.
Teams will consist of four riders but individual entries will be accepted. Click here to enter.
All details concerning accommodation are on the entry form.
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