Errigal Youth Tour Update

“1er Errigal International Youth Tour 2012”

Errigal Cycling Club in North West, Donegal will host the “1er Errigal International Youth Tour 2012” on August bank Holiday weekend (4/5/6). The event is a prestigious event and is the only Youth International Cycling event in Ireland in 2012. The event is endorsed by both Cycling Ireland and Cycling Ulster.

Errigal Cycling Club is delighted to be hosting an event of its stature.

The event itself will be mainly based in the Churchill area of County Donegal with the event HQ being Gartan Outdoor Education Centre.

The event in 2012 will be family orientated and community based and with an ideal headquarters in Gartan Outdoor Education Centre. The event is superbly located in safe environs for children. Gartan Outdoor Education Centre is set on 87 acres on the shores of Gartan Lough and really is a very special place. The event itself relies on the support of the local people a long the stage routes and also the local business people that have expressed their generous support.

Young cyclists from as far away as South Africa and Cataluña (Spain) are now confirmed in the 2012 event.

A very large contingent of riders from Britain are also entered, and the presence of large numbers of British riders always lends an edge to the competitiveness of the racing – This includes the Isle of Man who of course has a serious pedigree when it comes to Cycling. Mark Cavendish (competed on the Irish Youth tour in 1999 in beautiful Killorglin – He is the 2011 Road World Champion and winner of the 2011 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award). The youth tour has attracted the likes of Johnny Bellis (Ex- CSC Saxo Bank), Ian Stannard (Team Sky – Stannard was part of the Great Britain team that helped Mark Cavendish win the 2011 UCI World Road Race Championship). This is only a sample of the talent that has visited our shores for this great event. Many more foreign riders who have competed on the Irish Youth Tour that started back in 1998 in Kerry under the guidance of Killorglin Cycling Club have come to prominence all over Europe. The current An Post Sean Kelly Cycling team of 2012 was well represented over the years and particularly in 2006 as the general classification after 4 stages was an Irish 1, 2 and 3 (Philip Lavery, NODE4-Giordana, Sean Downey, An Post and Sam Bennett, An Post).

The event ran for 10 years in County Kerry and in 2009 it moved west to the town of Kiltimagh where many overseas riders again attended. In 2011, the event was contested by a field of 186 riders from eight nations.

For 2012, the event moves North to County Donegal – The event itself will commence on Saturday morning the 4th of August with sign on for all categories at 10am until 12md at Gartan Outdoor Education Centre.

DAY 1 PROGRAMME

The event will then roll out at 1pm with the U12 competitors taking on a 7.5km Stage, U14’s – 28.2km Stage, and U16’s – 47km Stage.

DAY 2 PROGRAMME

Sunday will start with Stage 2 – A challenging a 1.6km Hill Climb – leaving race headquarters and finishing in the host village Churchill. This stage will apply to all competitor categories.

On Sunday afternoon U12’s will contest a 9.5km Stage, U14’S 28.5km Stage and finally U16’s 47.5km Stage.

DAY 3 PROGRAMME

On Monday morning at 9am the competitors will roll out on to a Criterium circuit in the town of Letterkenny. This promises to be a great spectacle.

The circuit is 1.28km in length. The stages comprise of some hilly terrain and all stages on the Youth Tour are of a lap nature, thus making it more spectator friendly for the following support, mentors, parents etc.

No vehicles apart from race officials will be authorised to take part in the race cavalcade. The stages will be exciting

and will pass through Churchill village on each lap so for anyone that wishes to spectate they can relax in the village and watch the wonderful spectacle unfold.

More informative details in relation to the stages will be released in due course and are subject to minor changes.

The village will cater for all food tastes over the weekend and anyone intending to stay in Letterkenny there will be a special shuttle bus service in operation for anyone that wants to enjoy the evening festivities in the village. Camping facilities are in existence including motor homes. All other types of accommodation will be catered for.

Full details of the race and entry forms are available on the Club website www.errigalcyclingclub.com or Email us at errigalcc@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Twitter- @errigalcc or on Facebook – www.facebook.com/pages/Errigal-International-Youth-TOUR

Anyone with any queries whatsoever do not hesitate in contacting the club as we will be delighted to assist.