Donegal Atlantic Way Ultra Race: Cormac Keeney on his way to winning the men's solo race.
Cormac Keeney wins 555km Donegal Atlantic Way Ultra Race
Making a trip home from Spain to his native county, Cormac Keeney has won the 555km Donegal Atlantic Way Ultra Race.
And the Letterkenny man did it in record time. He clocked 18hrs 42mins 51secs.
That shaved just under 37 minutes off the time of Ronan McLaughlin who last year powered to victory in a time of 19hrs 19mins 40secs.
Keeney was nip and tuck with Stephen Harkens in the men’s solo race for much of the way.
And while Harkens of Team Madigan led in the early stages, Keeney overhauled him.
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In the end 41 minutes separated them; Harkens completing the very testing course in 19hrs 23mins 48secs.
And rounding out the podium was Johnny Kane; the Four Masters CC man completing the race in 20hrs 59mins 27secs.
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Keeney is based in Spain where he runs the popular Cycle Sierra Nevada cycling holiday and training camp business.
The 34-year-old Donegal man normally returns home to ride Rás Dhun na nGall each year.
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But with that race not taking place this season he decided to ride the Donegal Atlantic Way Ultra Race instead; with great success as it turns out.
Harkens of Madigan put in a great rider for 2nd place (Photo with thanks to Marian Lamb)
In the women’s race Melanie Wasley put in a fantastic ride. Indeed, her strong performance meant she wasn’t too far off the times of some of the leading men.
The London-based Epsom CC rider also broke the course record. Her new marker for the solo women was 21hrs 50mins 42secs.
Next to finish the women’s solo event was Roe Valley CC rider Heather Nicholl; in a time of 33hrs 56mins 30secs.
Inishowen Wheelers Rory Devlin and Damian Langan won the two-person category. They set a new course record of 17hrs 27mins 6secs.
Team AAA won the four-person category and again set a new course record of 17hrs 2mins 57secs.
The event began at 8am on Friday, with a cut-off point of 40 hours. That means the riders were required to finish by 2am on Sunday.
Riders went off at two-minute intervals and starters were clustered based on seeding. That meant those expected to put in similar performances started around the same time.
The race follows 555km of the Wild Atlantic Way around the county, with the ascents of both Mamore Gap and Glengesh Pass included.
It is open to solo riders and teams of two, four and eight riders; all following a set race route.
With race headquarters in Letterkenny, the riders raced for the Inishowen peninsula and then anti-clockwise towards Malin Head and over Mamore Gap.
The route then took the riders back to Letterkenny via Buncrana and then followed the Donegal Wild Atlantic Way south.
That section took the riders through Knockalla, Fanad Head, Atlantic Drive, Hornhead, Carrickfin, Glengesh Pass, Sliabh League, Barnesmore Gap and into the finish in Letterkenny.
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