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Connemara Chamber of Commerce has applied to be a ‘host town’ during this major bi-annual cycle event on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif
The Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif is a major new cycle event supported by Fáilte Ireland, Wild Atlantic Way & Tourism Ireland. It will form part of a series of bi – annual Cycle events along the coastal route (from Kinsale in West Cork to Muff in Donegal) which will promote the Wild Atlantic Way as a premium Cycling destination internationally and domestically. The Sportif series will be fully supported, multi – stage events that will allow our cyclists concentrate on pumping the legs and taking in the wonderful scenery, letting the team at Ride Wild take care of everything else!
Clifden – One of only 4 Host Towns
Connemara Chamber of Commerce has applied for Clifden to be one of only four ‘host towns’ along the route. Clifden is applying to establish Clifden as a ‘Must do’ stage on the Wild Atlantic way Cycle Sportif. Other potential host towns are Kinsale, Caherciveen and Donegal Town. The role of the selected Host Towns will be significant as it will allow them to take up all the options in our exciting Community Engagement Programme. Each Host Town along the route will have the opportunity to partake in the Best Host Town Welcome Award initiative.
Stage 8 & 9 – The Connemara Stages of the Wild Atlantic Way Sportif
The Connemara stages of the 2018 event are Stage 8, the 130km Galway to Clifden route via Spiddal, Kilkieran, Roundstone, Ballyconneely and finishing in Clifden. Stage 8 occurs on the Saturday April 29th 2018. Participants then enjoy a two night break in Clifden before starting Stage 9. Stage 9 is the 127km Clifden to Westport route via Letterfrack, Leenane, Louisburgh which starts on Tuesday May 1st 2018.
Stage 8
April 29th – Stage 8: 130km Galway to Clifden
via Spiddal, Kilkieran, Roundstone, Ballyconneely
Overnight Sunday 29th April & Monday 30th April 2018 in Clifden
Stage 9
May 1st – Stage 9: 127km Clifden to Westport
via Letterfrack, Leenane, Louisburgh
Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif 2018 – The Full Route
Block 1:
Saturday April 21st 2018
Stage 1: 112km Kinsale to Skibbereen
April 22nd – Stage 2: 125km Skibbereen to Bantry
April 23rd – Stage 3: 156km Bantry to Sneem
April 24th – Stage 4: 171km Sneem to Dingle
Block 2:
Thursday 26th April 2018
Stage 5: 105km Dingle to Tralee
April 27th – Stage 6: 191km Tralee to Lahinch
April 28th – Stage 7: 111km Lahinch to Galway
April 29th – Stage 8: 130km Galway to Clifden
Block 3:
Tuesday 1st May 2018
Stage 9: 127km Clifden to Westport
2nd May – Stage 10: 142km Westport to Belmullet
3rd May – Stage 11: 132km Belmullet to Enniscrone
4th May – Stage 12: 146km Enniscrone to Donegal Town
Block 4:
Sunday 6th May 2018
Stage 13: 91km Donegal Town to Ardara
7th May – Stage 14: 110km Ardara to Dunfanaghy
8th May – Stage 15: 95km Dunfanaghy to Letterkenny
9th May – Stage 16: 145km Letterkenny to Muff
What:
Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif
Details:
The Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif is Ireland’s first fully-supported, multi-day sportif. The Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif is a major new cycle event supported by Fáilte Ireland, Wild Atlantic Way & Tourism Ireland. It will form part of a series of bi – annual Cycle events along the coastal route (from Kinsale in West Cork to Muff in Donegal) which will promote the Wild Atlantic Way as a premium Cycling destination internationally and domestically. The Sportif series will be fully supported, multi – stage events that will allow our cyclists concentrate on pumping the legs and taking in the wonderful scenery, letting the team at Ride Wild take care of everything else! Although the event will run over 20 days, it will be broken down into 4 blocks of 4 stages so entrants can choose the dates that suit them best.
Where:
All along Irelands Wild Atlantic Way starting in Kinsale in West Cork and ending in Muff in Donegal
When:
2017 :
- SEPTEMBER 13th – 29th September 2017
2018 :
- APRIL & MAY 2018 – 21st April to 6th May 2018
- SEPTEMBER 2018 – Dates & details to follow
Website:
https://wildatlanticwaycyclesportif.ie/
THE ROUTE / STAGES
- Full Route https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22805365
- Block 3: Clifden to Donegal https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24775993
Block 1:
Stage 1
April 21st – Stage 1: 112km Kinsale to Skibbereen
via Old Head, Courtmacsherry, Rosscarbery, Glandore, Union Hall.
Stage 2
April 22nd – Stage 2: 125km Skibbereen to Bantry
Via Schull, Mizen Head, Durrus, Sheep’s Head
Stage 3
April 23rd – Stage 3: 156km Bantry to Sneem
via Glengarriff, Ring of Beara, Kenmare
Stage 4
April 24th – Stage 4: 171km Sneem to Dingle
via Waterville, Cahirciveen, Glenbeigh, Inch
Block 2:
Stage 5
April 26th – Stage 5: 105km Dingle to Tralee
via Venty, Ballyferriter, Cloghane
Stage 6
April 27th – Stage 6: 191km Tralee to Lahinch
via Ballybunion, Kilrush, Kilbaha, Spanish Point
Stage 7
April 28th – Stage 7: 111km Lahinch to Galway
via Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Clarinbridge
Stage 8
April 29th – Stage 8: 130km Galway to Clifden
via Spiddal, Kilkieran, Roundstone, Ballyconneely
Block 3:
Stage 9
May 1st – Stage 9: 127km Clifden to Westport
via Letterfrack, Leenane, Louisburgh
Stage 10
May 2nd – Stage 10: 142km Westport to Belmullet
via Newport, Achill, Bangor Erris
Stage 11
May 3rd – Stage 11: 132km Belmullet to Enniscrone
via Glosh, Ceide Fields, Killala,
Stage 12
May 4th – Stage 12: 146km Enniscrone to Donegal
via Easky, Sligo, Mullaghmore, Ballyshannon
Block 4:
Stage 13
May 6th – Stage 13: 91km Donegal to Ardara
via Sliabh League, Glencolmcille,
Stage 14
May 7th – Stage 14: 110km Ardara to Dunfanaghy
via Portnoo, Dungloe, Burtonport, Fallcaragh
Stage 15
May 8th – Stage 15: 95km Dunfanaghy to Letterkenny
via Fanad Head, Portsalon, Rathmullan
Stage 16
May 9th – Stage 16: 145km Letterkenny to Muff
via Buncrana, Malin Head, Moville, Quigley’s Point.
