Cyclists going WILD for the MAYO Ultra events
The second edition of The Wild Mayo Ultra comes to Westport on May 13th and 14th.
Raceface events are promoting this ultra-cycling weekend with three fantastic events on routes around the county that will aim to push the competitors to their limits!
The routes use the majestic Mayo coastline and county border roads, passing through the county's iconic beauty spots which take the participant on a historic tour of Mayo's gems.
This event is not for the faint-hearted, it really is "Ultra" tough, once the clock starts outside The Mariner Hotel on Mill Street, participants have to negotiate the routes cycling completely solo. The 650 kilometre route covers every nook and cranny of the county's border, scaling the highest mountains with a total elevation gain of 6500 meters. All participants have to use a GPS device to navigate the route, descending down boreens, back roads and on the roads less travelled. The event really is an adventure of exploration and sightseeing making it a lifetime achievement when completed.
The 200-kilometer route is still a fair challenge but is aimed at those dipping their toe into Ultra for the first time or those just getting back after being out of action. It still is a very tough event but one that is more than achievable. Navigating through the Newport Furnace lakes, the Wild Nephin drive, North West Mayo, and over most of the Achill hills.
The 300k event will be a tough day in the saddle! The goal here will be to have this finished before darkness sets in. It takes in all the 200-kilometer event plus the north Mayo coast. Sights like Downpatrick's Head and the Ceide Fields will be stunning.
Participants will encounter many battles on their trip, they will face their own demons telling them to stop and give up, the pain of being on the saddle for so long, their legs and lungs burning with lactic acid the unrelenting wind, the constant navigating and questioning are they on the right route or not. They will ask themselves WHY would you in contemplate such torture?
For all the hardship comes the simple pleasure of the majestic Mayo scenery, the carefree laziness of the sheep hanging around the roadside, the sea air breeze on their face, the knowledge that today they are going to beat the route and finish knowing that they will overcome the physical and mental challenge of the Wild Mayo Ultra!
Let's hope that Mother Nature will smile down on them and have the wind on their backs.
Full details of the route and time schedules are on www.raceface.ie
The Wild Mayo Ultra has partnered up with The Mariner Hotel, Mill Street, Westport which is the event's headquarters. The riders start off on Friday evening and Saturday morning respectively and finish on Saturday evening from 18:00.
The atmosphere should be electric as family and friends welcome home their heroes. Westport Bike shop has come on board as a sponsor and will help the participants with any last-minute mechanicals or equipment
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The events are supported by Destination Westport, Mayo.ie, Marrey Bikes, Nuasan, and Westport Bike shop.