Produced in association with Tour de Burren
The Tour de Burren is set in stunning landscape along the Atlantic shore. And this time around Sean Kelly is leading an unusual and exciting ride which has been added to the regular rides that have proven so popular down years.
Not content with taking cyclists through the spectacular County Clare countryside and along the Atlantic coast, the Tour de Burren has added a night stage.
The ‘Night into Day’ sportive will be led by King Kelly himself. And you can get all the information you need by following this link www.tourdeburren.com
The Tour de Burren takes place on June 15th and 16th. And while there are three rides to choose from during the traditional Saturday sportive, the new night ride will appeal to many.
It takes the cyclists on a route of between 80km through the incredible Burren landscape; under the cover of darkness thanks to the 2am start.
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But the summer sun will be rising very early in the west in June. So it will be a bike ride through sun rise and along the Coast Road back to headquarters in Ballyvaughan.
The Night into Day both starts and finishes in Ballyvaughan. And when it’s over, breakfast will be served in Monks in the village.
That, and riding through the sun rise in such famed scenery, should created a unique atmosphere for those who take park.
The former King of the Classics Sean Kelly will be a busy boy as he will ride along on all of the events. He’ll ride with every one of the four sportive options the Tour of the Burren is promoting this year.
Kelly’s focus will be on getting around and chatting to as many people as possible so it sounds like a great opportunity to meet and mingle with him.
After the Day into Night event is over, the day time sportives will commence. Riders can choose from the 135km, 85km or 60km routes.
Burren Cycling Club promotes the sportive and it has added the new 60km Burren Ramble option this year. It sounds perfect for those adventurous souls who ride the Night into Day event.
They can experience the sun rise on their bikes in the summer time in the west of Ireland before breakfast back in Ballyvaughan and then a 60km spin to squeeze the maximum out of the experience.
And those looking for a longer test have the 85km and 135km events to choose from.
Closer look at the options
What promises to be a festival of cycling gets underway on Friday, June 15th, with the 14km Family Loop.
It leaves Ballyvaughan at 7pm in the direction of Lisdoonvarna and up to the Aillwee Cave where there will be a much needed rest.
The final leg of the journey will bring you back to Ballyvaughan via the Green Road.
This event is suitable for cyclists of all ages; especially very little ones!
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The Tour de Burren has been a hugely successful event in recent years. And now the night to day option allows cyclists ride through the dawn in a really stunning part of the country.
The Night into Day ride takes riders from Ballyvaughan and out into the Burren under the cover of darkness.
It will be a controlled ride until the rising sun breaks through as riders hit the Coast Road back to Ballyvaughan for breakfast.
There is something of a surprise in store in that the route will only be announced as it departs.
At 9am on Saturday the ‘Burning Burren’ ride, at 135km, gets underway.
Leaving the village of Ballyvaughan cyclists will head out the Lisdoonvarna Road and on to Ballyalban Hill up past the Aillwee Cave.
Megga Hill – a 1.5km incline – is next, before continuing on to Carron and Corker Hill.
From here you go up the New Line towards Tubber through the beauty of the Burren; a beautiful and flat stretch.
In the middle of Burren National Park the riders climb what the locals call the ‘Mini Corkscrew’ – a 3km ascent with several switchbacks.
Then it’s on to Carron, over the High Commons, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna where a welcome food stop awaits.
After refuelling on smoked salmon and cheesecake you head for Kilshanny, then Liscannor and on up to the Cliffs of Moher.
It’s then back towards Lisdoonvarna and the Coast Road towards home.
The Bothar an n’Aillte has been added; a 5km climb with magnificent views of Galway Bay and the Burren.
On the final run to the finish the riders go around Black Head, along the Wild Atlantic Way and back to Ballyvaughan to finish.
Both the 60km Burren Ramble and 85km Burren Heart set out from Ballyvaughan at 10am.
The new Burren Ramble takes the riders from the start out to the slow ascent of Ballyalban Mountain, Aillwee Cave and Poulnabrone Dolmen.
Then it’s on to Maura Rua’s Castle, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna for a well earned break. From there it’s back to Fanore and on to Ballyvaughan via Black Head.
The 85km Burren Heart takes riders from the start out the Lisdoonvarna Road and up Ballyalban Hill past the Aillwee Cave.
The route then turns left for Carron, over a beautiful road through the High Commons - avoiding Megga Hill this year. Then it’s on into Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna for a welcome stop.
From Lisdoonvarna it’s down to Kilshanny, on to the Cliffs of Moher and back home by the Coast Road, via Bothar na n’Aillte and Black Head on the Wild Atlantic Way.
The Tour de Burren 2018 really has a spin to suit everyone!
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