Tributes paid at sportive that two Irish riders were killed training towards
Two Irish club cyclists had entered the Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge on Saturday but were killed out training in the build up to it (Photos courtesy Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge)
A tribute has been paid to two Irish cyclists who had entered the Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge but were killed on the roads before they got the chance to ride it.
When 3,000 riders lined out for the event in Co Clare on Saturday the deceased were remembered with a minute’s applause before the event got underway.
The reflection was dedicated to all cyclists who have died on the roads but with special mention of the two riders who had been looking forward to the event.
Des Butler and Tonya McEvoy had both signed up for the sportive which took place on Saturday.
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However, they were both killed in unrelated collisions with vehicles in Co Kildare and Co Clare recently.
Tonya was a member of the Orwell Wheelers club based in south Dublin. She died on a training spin with the club in February.
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Dubliner Tonya was an experienced sportive rider and was in collission with an oncoming vehicle near Maynooth, Co Kildare.
She had been progressing with Orwell, having started at beginner level. And had she gotten the chance, the training she was doing would undoubtedly have carried her through another enjoyable season of cycling.
The Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge was just one of those events she would have taken part in.
Des was training specifically for last weekend’s sportive when he was killed in collission with a camper van in Bunratty, Co Clare.
Went out training alone
The 50-year-old father of two was part of The Hub Cycling Club in Limerick and was in collission with a camper van last Sunday week at junction 7 on the N18.
He was taken from the scene by ambulance to hospital but was pronounced dead.
Des had been out training with his club mates on Saturday and decided to go for a solo spin alone on Sunday as he prepared for the sportive.
It a tragic twist, it is understood those in the camper van were members of a search and rescue group from the UK.
It has been reported locally they were travelling to Blacksod, Co Mayo, to help in the search operation following the R116 Search and Rescue helicopter crash.
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