Ronan McLaughlin, a former An Post-Chainreaction rider turned endurance specialist, has shattered the Mizen to Malin record - completing the 568km distance from the very south of the country to the most northerly tip at a blistering pace.
McLaughlin, who rode Rás Tailteann last month for Foyle Cycling Club, already has form in the endurance area as he set the Everesting world hour record a number of times during the Covid-19 lock-down period. Indeed, he is the reigning world record holder.
While Irish endurance rider, Sean Herron, had set the Mizen Head to Malin Head - Cork to Donegal - record in September 2021, in a time of 17 hours, 20 minutes and 45 seconds, McLaughlin has now gone almost two hours faster. His time on Sunday, and the new record subject to ratification, was 15 hours 30 minutes.
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He also raised funds - some £1,300 and counting - for two charities and did his ride in a bid to raise awareness around food allergies. He completed almost the whole route - save for about 3km - on a TT bike.
McLaughlin's route featured 4,529m of elevation gain and he averaged 36.6kmph and an average 82 rpm with a total work of 11,523kj.
Last September the 36-year-old Derry man also broke the Derry-Dublin place-to-place record that had stood for almost 60 years. His 229km ride in 5hrs 14mins 13sec was especially remarkable considering he spent much of this year recovering from breaking his leg after a freak crash resulting in complicated injuries.
McLaughlin represented Ireland in the elite men’s road race at the World Championships in 2012. Since hanging up his international racing wheels he has begun working as a cycling journalist and still races on the domestic road scene, winning the Shay Elliott Memorial twice.
