Hard racing expected in Connemara at the Bog week 2 day stage race

When a cycle race is staged in Connemara it means one thing strong winds from the Atlantic sea, last year in the races first edition the Slaney team all the way from Wexford took the spoils with David Walsh and  a strong team performance secured that they took most of the overall prizes back to the sunny South East, they are back again in 2012 but will not have it all their own way with strong teams from Galway Bay, Castlebar, Westport Covey Wheelers, the Mayo Centra Ras squad and the Western Lakes CC as hosts also boast a strong squad. This race is ideal preparation for riders preparing for the An Post Ras or the Tour of Ulster.

 See Race details below

On April 28th & 29th, there will be a feast of cycling which is being run in conjunction with Western Lakes Cycling Club, one of the finest cycling clubs in the west of Ireland.   This is the second year of the Conamara Bog Week 2 Day Cycle Race which will provide the competitors with a challenging course and two days of exciting riding” says JJ Flaherty, one of the organizers of the event.

Saturday 28th  sign on Marian Hall Tullycross 12.30pm.  First Stage  2.00pm start.   This race is for categories A1, A2, A3 and Jnr. 

 On Saturday, a race open to A4’s will take place.  It is a 60km race over an exciting course, sign in at 12.30pm at The Marian Hall Tullycross.  Race start 2.10pm.  The winner will receive the Conamara Bog Week Shield which is sponsored by Rogan’s Gala Store, Tully.

 Bog Week  2 day 2012 route details

Bog Week 2 day  2012- Stage1 with 2 laps based around Tullycross
44.22 mi route

http://soc.li/6BIbHTm

Stage 2 TT in Letterfrack / Tullycross
2.7 mi route in Letterfrack

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Stage 2A in Tully Cross
52.9 mi route in Tully Cross - CAT 5 Climb

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 The winner of the Conamara Bog Week 2 Day Cycle Race will be presented with the beautiful and prestigious Gogarty Cup which is sponsored by Renvyle House Hotel.  As Ronnie Counihan – General Manager of Renvyle House Hotel stated ‘We are delighted to sponsor Conamara Bog Week and especially the bike races as the founder of Renvyle House Hotel, Oliver St. John Gogarty was not only a leading literary figure but was also a first class cyclist’.  Presentation will take place in the Renvyle Inn where all the riders will be treated to refreshments after some grueling days of cycling.

 This promises to be a great weekend of cycling with some fine riders taking part over a challenging and breathtakingly beautiful course.  These races put cycling on the map in the Conamara area and give support and encouragement to local riders such as John James Flaherty and John O’Halloran who have been wonderful advocates for cycling, a considerable sport in Conamara.  This is the fourth year of the partnership between CEECC and Western Lakes CC and each year the number of riders taking part is growing.   “We look forward to a brilliant weekend” says Joe Rogan of Rogan’s Gala.  Last year the Wexford riders stole the show but they won’t get it all their own way in 2012.  This is a pre Bog Week event to fit in with the cycling calendar.  The Conamara Bog Week proper starts on Friday May 25th and runs until Monday June 4th – an authentic multi-layered event that has something for everybody wrapped up in the very best of Irish trad music.

www.westernlakescc.com Cycling contact: JJ Flaherty 087 9120910

General Information on Conamara Bog Week:

CEECC www.ceecc.org / lfrack@eircom.net  095 43443 /085 1154629.