Major Cycle Event – The Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif

Major Cycle Event – The Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif

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 and 9 - Wild Atlantic Way Sportif

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

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.

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