New ‘Classic League’ unveiled; major races through the season nationwide

The new National Road Series has 16 races and a prize fund of €3,000. It is aimed at rolling back the yeas to the ‘Classic League’ and will hopefully give domestic racing a badly needed boost.

Cycling Ireland has unveiled a new National Road Series, similar to the Classic League that ran on the domestic calendar for many years.

The series is mainly aimed at A1 and A2 riders and will comprise 16 events, run across the four provinces through the season.

As well as cash prizes for each race, there is also a €3,000 fund for overall placings in the series.

Riders will score points towards their overall position by placing in races, with a rider’s top five placings to count.

However, to be eligible for a final position, a rider must compete in at least three of the provinces.

Paidi O’Brien won Rás Luimni last year; can he do the same next month and take the first event in the new National Road Series?

Previously when the classic league was run, all races counted towards a rider’s final position.

Cycling Ireland believes the new system offers riders more flexibility and does not force them to travel.

The new National Road Series is comprised of existing events, with the 16 fixtures listed below.

It gets underway in just over one month’s time with Rás Luimni in Munster on March 8th.

Director of the Cycling Ireland board, Anthony Mitchell is overseeing the series and said he was confident it would be a success.

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The Shay Elliott Memorial is one of the biggest races in the new series. Above, Damien Shaw and Eddie Dunbar riding away from the field last year (Photo: Stephen McMahon – Sportsfile)

The federation had pledged it would be held last year, but those plans never materialised.

“Cycling Ireland has recognised the gap in the domestic calendar for a league of ‘classic events’,” said Mitchell.

“And (it) has also built on previous experience taking into account that the cost of competing in all events across the island was becoming prohibitive.

“The new series will still see riders compete across the country, but may not result in them travelling from one end to the other, as it is envisaged that a rider’s counting scores will come from their ‘home’ province, and the two geographically closest.”

The Wallace Caldwell Memorial is the second event in the series and one of four to be held in Ulster. Above, eventual winner Fraser Duncan piles on the pressure last year (Photo: Marian Lamb – Cycling Ulster)

Cycling Ireland chief executive Geoff Liffey said he was looking forward to getting the series underway.

“This is a toe in the water with a revised format National Series, as we recognise the costs in competing around the country over the season,” he said.

“Hopefully as the series gains momentum in 2015 we can expand it in coming years, and potentially attract a series sponsor going forward.

“We have had interest from numerous race promoters; however we have kept the counting events to four per province.

“We are grateful to all race organisers who expressed an interest, and perhaps those events not selected for 2015 will be in the running for inclusion for 2016.”