Luke Grivell-Mellor was one of the few riders to finish the stage three criterium last year as rain forced the race to be neutralised. The JLT Condor presented by Mavic rider is back again this year. (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
The route for this year’s Suir Valley has been finalised with the organisers changing things up significantly from previous years.
While stages two and three remain the same, the opening and concluding days are completely changed and race director Paul O’Donoghue is hoping the new courses will take out some of the predictability of it.
“We wanted to bring the race down to Fermoy and we wanted to incorporate the greater Munster area in the route,” he said.
“There’s plenty clubs around so we’re going down to Mitchelstown, over the Vee from the Lismore side, out to Cahir, onto Mitchelstown, over the climb at Kilworth Camp, onto Clogheen, Ballylooby and into Cahir by the golf club, finishing up by Cahir House Hotel.”
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It’s a 120-kilometre opener with the Vee after 100 kilometres looking rather pivotal.
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“I doubt it’ll come to a sprint,” continued O’Donoghue.
“I imagine a strong group will come to the line.”
Stages two and three are the fast-and-flat 92-kilometre trek and the town centre criterium in the evening.
Last year Dave McGowan (Champions Systems/VCUK Racing) won the morning stage but there were time splits while the criterium was won by Luke Grivell-Mellor (JLT Condor presented by Mavic).
Those stages have been retained.
Monday’s stage is changed and instead of the hilltop finish at Tickinor it’s a 117-kilometre journey starting and finishing in Clonmel.
The route takes the riders ut to Cahir, across to Bansha, over the Glen of Aherlow (which the An Post Ras went up), across to Tipperary, Cappawhite, Dundrum, Rossmore, Donohill, Cashel, Fethard, then back into Kilsheelan, finishing on the main street, right outside the official race HQ, Hearns Hotel.
Stage details are as follows...
Stage One
Stage Two
Stage Three
Stage Four
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