Start list Gorey Three Day | 144 riders read to rubble in Wexford | Sticky Bottle

Spectacular photo essay capturing real story of Gorey Three Day — A rite of passage for most road racing cyclists in Ireland, the Gorey Three Day is back on the roads of Co Wexford this weekend with four stages over three days (Photo and homepage photo both by David Ryan)

One of the best races on the domestic calendar, and always a tough encounter, the Gorey Three Day is back on the roads of Co Wexford this weekend. There will be four stages over three days - including a split stage with a TT on Easter Sunday - and stickybottle has, below, picked out the riders most likely to excel.

While the return of the race against the clock to 'The Gorey' will help ensure the cream rises to the top, there will be plenty of moves surging clear during the three road race stages. And, knowing the character of this race, any one of those breakaways could make it to the finish and shape the final standings.

In the women's race, there are 18 riders in the field and some of them are the best on the home scene at present. The O'Brien sisters - Aoife and Caoimhe - are both down to start having won the opening two rounds of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series in the last fortnight.

International riders Erin Grace Creighton (McConvey Cycles), Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) and Linda Kelly (Spin the Bean Power by Coffee) are also likely to have a say this weekend, as well as Darcey Harkness (VC Glendale) while British rider Emma Jeffers (Jadan-Vive Le Velo) has the legs to impress.

In the men's field, picking a winner in the Gorey is an impossibility. Older riders who are getting back to a top level normally pick this weekend to re-emerge. Younger riders who have ridden well in the opening weeks of the season, but not quite secured top results, often break through at the Gorey.

But with those big caveats in mind, let's a pick some of the riders to watch, though we know it's inevitable we are overlooking others.

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Top juniors Darragh Doherty (Flanders Color Delever Team) and Travis Harkness (Scott Motor Bright Group) were the two reserves for the Irish junior team at Kerry Group Rás Mumhan this weekend but ride the Gorey instead. They go into the weekend in Wexford as real contenders for stage wins and overall victory. Conor Prendergast of Galway Bay CC won the recent Castlebar Grand Prix in Co Mayo with a long-range solo effort and has to be counted into the reckoning in Gorey.

Cycling Leinster has two teams in the race - seniors and juniors. Of the seniors, Matthew Hoare, Andrew Kelly and Charlie Holt can make an impact while the junior trio of Josh Callaly, Killian O'Brien and Tadhg Killeen are all capable of getting up the road and imposing themselves on the racing.

Curtis Neill (Team Caldwell Cycles) rode very well during his first season as a junior last year and can count himself into the mix this weekend as can former junior international Eoghan Cooke of Spellman Dublin Port. James O’Shea (Comeragh CC) won the A3 race at the Des Hanlon last weekend and if he can replicate that form he can go far over three days of racing in Gorey, as can Jack Conroy of Bray Wheelers based on his consistency in recent weeks.

Lucan CRC has the largest team in the race, including some strong riders, and its numbers should enable it join the breakaways and work as a strong unit if one of their number shows the form to win a stage or even the overall.

Peter Kirwan is the previous A3 national champion - and climbers' jersey winner at the Gorey in the past - and the hillier route this year should suit him. Gavin Handley can also climb and with that duo in the same team as strong riders like Rob Jennings and Adriaan Pretorius, not to mention the experienced Eugene Murtagh, they can put up a considerable challenge.

Drew McKinley (Newry Wheelers CC) took a great win last weekend at the Killinchy GP and his combination of experience and current form could stand him in good stead this weekend while another veteran, Craig Sweetman (Stamullen RC), can get up into the breakaways. Young Hayden Power (Comeragh CC), a former youth national champion, could pull off a result, especially in a bunch sprint scenario.

The Gorey | The Deets

Sat, Stage 1: Craanford to Craanford Circuit 98.7km. 4 Laps. KOM Cat 3 climbs x 4. Start 2pm (women) and 2.15pm (women). Finish approx 5.15pm
Sun, Stage 2: Gorey to Gorey 70.4km. KOH x 5 (2 Cat 1, 2 Cat 2, 1 Cat 3). Race Depart 10am (women) 10.15am (men). Finish approx 1:30pm
Sun, Stage 3: Gorey Business Park TT 2.4km. First rider off at 5pm
Mon, Stage 4: Craanford to Craanford 101km, KOM Cat 2 x 1. Starting at 10am, finish approx 12.30pm