Full start list & preview for this weekend's Newry Three Day

Ian Richardson, far left, held the yellow jersey last year but lost it to eventual winner Art MacManusa (Photo: Brendan Monaghan)

Newry Wheelers have put together a quality field of the best A2 and A3 riders in the country to fight it out for overall and stage honours in the Newry Three-Day this weekend.

The race starts this Friday with an evening stage of 40 miles, with three climbs. Stage gets underway at 7pm and starts and finishes at St Marks High school. The riders will tackle 35 flat miles until they hit the Grinan road climb which should split it up a bit before the stage end at around 8.30pm.

A short Saturday morning time-trial of 2.5 miles sees the first riders start at 9.30am and takes each one from Hilltown to Rathfrilan. It will be followed by an afternoon stage of 55 miles, with two climbs.

That road stage starts in Hilltown at 1.30pm and will finish on Hilltown's main street at approximately 3.30pm. Out on the road the riders will take in the hilly roads of the Mournes, with three KOH primes.

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The final stage on Sunday afternoon is arguably the most difficult and decisive of the lot, at 72 miles. It features four categorised climbs and will be a very tough test to round off what promises to be a weekend of hard racing.

All the stages are based in and around the Newry/Mourne area, with teams of up to five riders. The yellow jersey will be sponsored by the Spin11 clothing company with the mountains jersey sponsored by FPM, the points jersey by McKinley Contracts, while Felix O’Hare will sponsor stages.

Full start list for Newry Three Day

Promoted by Newry Wheelers, Friday June 28th to Sunday June 30th