Excitement Builds for the Sliabh Luachra Clasaici on March 9th


The highly anticipated Sliabh Luachra Clasaici is set to take place on March 9th, marking an exciting milestone in Irish road racing. As the second National Grade race of the year and the first in Munster under Cycling Ireland’s new structure, this event symbolises the rejuvenation of road racing across the country.

Building on a Strong Start to the Season
The opening round of the National Grade events kicked off last weekend with the Seamus Kennedy Memorial Race, hosted by Navan RC. Marking the start of the 2025 domestic season, the event showcased thrilling competition as Cycling Ireland’s new category system was put into action for the first time. The impressive turnout across all categories led to exciting and competitive racing, reinforcing the promise of an action-packed road racing season ahead.

Navan saw opening weekend wins for Ruairi Byrne, Toby Sweetman, Brian Kavanagh and Alice McWilliam.

A Thrilling Day of Racing
This year’s edition of the Sliabh Luachra Clasaici promises fierce competition, with separate races for C1, C2, C3, and Women. Riders will benefit from chip timing, ensuring accurate and prompt results, which will be available on the Cycling Ireland website shortly after the race. Points will be awarded to the top 20 finishers in each race, making every sprint and climb crucial. The race follows the well-known circuit, just under 16km in length. It begins with a fast-paced start before reaching Cullen village, where competitors will face a steep climb that flattens out as they pass through the village. The climb lasts for 2.5km before the route rolls back toward Knocknagree, concluding with a challenging 1km drag to the finish line. Riders can check out the full route on Strava here: Sliabh Luachra Clasaici Route.

Race Categories and Laps
  • C1 - Denis Sheehan Cup (6 laps)
  • C2 - Willie Reen Cup (5 laps)
  • C3 - John Fleming Cup (4 laps)
  • Sliabh Luachra Clasaici Women's Cup (4 laps)
Registration and Sign-On
While registration is online, all riders must sign on at Knocknagree Community Centre (P51E625) and collect their timing chips. Sign-on opens at 9:15 AM and closes 15 minutes before the start of each race. It is crucial that riders return their chips immediately after crossing the finish line.

Entries for this weekend's National Grade event are still open here.

Prize Presentation
The presentation of prizes will take place in the community centre approximately 20 minutes after each race concludes. Riders and spectators alike can look forward to celebrating the achievements of the day. 

With a challenging course, competitive fields, and a renewed enthusiasm for Irish road racing, the Sliabh Luachra Clasaici is set to be an unforgettable event. Best of luck to all riders, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Next on the National Grade Calendar
Following the Sliabh Luachra Clasaici, the next event on the National Grade race calendar is the Galway Classic on March 16th, hosted by Galway Bay CC. Known for its demanding and unique parcours, the Galway Classic is set to provide another thrilling test for riders. Registration is now open, and riders can sign up here: Galway Classic Entry.

For more information on the changes to road racing for 2025, and improvements made to the structure of racing for this year, you can read more here.

Results for all events from 2025 will be available here, while National Grade race results will also be displayed here.