Inaugural Gravel National Championships Preview
The inaugural Irish National Gravel Championships take place this Sunday, 22nd of September at Ryehill Demense, Co. Galway.
Hosted by Galway Bay CC, it will hold demonstration
status as per Cycling Ireland Technical Regulations. Only the Women and Open
race will hold this status. M40/M50 + M60 races are non-championship.
Women’s and Open categories will be open Junior, Senior and Masters riders. There will be no separate championships for these categories i.e the first three riders across the line will get medals, regardless of categories.
Galway Bay CC are no stranger to gravel events, having run
several successful gravel races in previous years, including the Galway Gravel
Grinder, The Galway Classic and The Bog Trials.
Mick Ruane from Galway Bay Cycling Club said: “Galway
Bay Cycling Club is delighted to run the Gravel National Championships. The
race will be run from Ryehill Demesne just outside Abbeynockmoy in east Co.
Galway and will be run on a circuit consisting of gravel and boreen roads. The
route will be very tough and the race is likely to break up into small groups
due to the amount of gravel and technical corners. It is really a course for
strong riders who can handle their bike - tire choice will be crucial in who
comes out on top. We can’t wait to welcome the best riders in Ireland for what
should be a great weekend.”
The course is 11.2km, and is available here.
Provisional Distances
- M40/50 2 hours (6 laps, 70.8km)
- M60 1.5 hours (5 laps, 59km)
- Women (6 laps, 70.8km)
- Open (9 laps, 106.2km)
This first ever Gravel National Championships will have some
notable entries, including multiple Grand Tour Stage Winner turned gravel rider
Nicholas Roche, riding alongside his younger brother Alexis.
2024 National Road Series winner Daire Feeley will also take
to the course, and will be battling with professional road riders Stephen
Clancy of Novo Nordisk and Leo Doyle of X-Speed United.
Annalise Murphy will be looking to carry her road and track
success this year into the gravel event. International road rider with Keukens
Redant Cycling Team Ellen McDermott will also be hoping to get herself onto the
top step of the podium.
Schedule
9.30am M60 (non-champ)
11.00am M40/M50 (non-champ)
1.15pm Womens National Championship
3.15pm Open National Championship
Entries have been reopened for last minute entries until 11.59pm tonight, Thursday, 19th September here.
Following the Irish National Championships the World and European Championships close out the gravel season. Further details for the World Championships can be found here, and more information on the European Championships is available here.