The Galway Classic has become an attractive challenge for many racing cyclists - and sportive riders - on the domestic scene due to its unique course, with gravel sectors, bog roads and farm tracks. And now the road race next month has been given a boost with confirmation several British teams are due to take part.
Some of them are no strangers to Irish road racing, and have pulled a few legs off in their day while competing in Ireland. And among their number with be a star of moto sport, Superbike racing to be precise.
Scott Redding (30) is a Superbike world championship winner and was British superbike champion in 2019. In recent years he has taken up cycling in a big way. He not only competes on the British cycling scene - which he somehow combines with his superbike career - but has also founded the Rokit-SRCT cycling team based in the West Midlands.
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He says he uses his cycling to keep fit, which really helps him in the demanding world of superbikes, where the riders throw their bikes around motor racing circuits at up to 300km per hour. And because cycling is a bigger physical test, he has said learning how to suffer, and really dig deep, in cycling races has helped him push himself even more when he's competing in superbike.
Redding and his Rokit-SRCT team will come to Ireland for the Galway Classic next month, with several other British teams also entered and looking forward to making the trip to the west of Ireland.
"Galway Bay CC are delighted to announce that three British teams will come to compete in the Galway Classic on April 15th in Monivea, east Galway," said Cathal Dillane of the promoting club.
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"Having gained a reputation at home and abroad as Ireland's toughest one-day race, two new teams from across the water will come to challenge the best of the Irish riders on the grueling 157km course which contains no less than 14 sectors.
"Returning this year is team Embark Spirit BSS, who will be bringing a very strong squad including former winner of the UCI 1.2 Grand Prix des Marbriers Damien Clayton. London Irish team Foran CCC are the third UK based team competing this year and they bring a strong team of five riders with good off-road experience which should prove useful on the rough sectors through the bogs and manor estates around east Galway."
Dillane also confirmed last year's winner of the main event at the Galway Classic, Daire Feeley, will return to try and defend his title. The Roscommon man, and All human-VeloRevolution rider, has won Rás Tailteann since claiming victory in the Galway Classic last year, though Feeley has not eased off the gas since then and should be in good shape in six weeks.
The Galway Classic races will unfold on Saturday, April 15th, and will also start at Ryehill Demesne. The main men’s race will be 157km in length, with 14 off-road sectors through bog roads, farm tracks and gravel roads. The women’s Galway Classic Mná will be 84km long with eight sectors. The third race of the day will be the separate A3-Junior event, also 84km long with eight off-road sectors.
The following day, Sunday April 16th, will be the turn of the sportive riders in the Galway Classic Sportive. The riders will face a choice of routes – of 85km or 120km – and will also negotiate the same gravel sectors during their events.
The 85km “Puncheur” sportive route involves eight gravel sectors, totaling 16km, while the 120km “Rouleur” sportive includes 10 sectors, totaling 21km. The sportives start from 10am from Ryehill Demesne, Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway.
