IT’S ALL SYSTEMS go this coming week for the Donegal Bay Cycling Club as they host the fourth edition of the Donegal Bay Spring Sportive Leisure event next Saturday, April 16.
The previous runnings of the event have been a great success, with over 200 cyclists turning up to participate each year, and the feedback received was very positive. The hope again this year is to build on that success and turn this event into one of the best leisure events in the country.
The main sponsor again for this years Sportive is Magee of Donegal Town who are kindly donating 200 free t-shirts to the first 200 participants to sign on.
The formula is once again similar to other years with three routes to choose from 40/100/140k. There are small alterations to each route from last year’s event to spruce things up and keep it interesting for all participants.The food stop on the longer routes has also moved to Meenaneary and comes at the halfway point for both distances.
The scenery on each route is some of the best Donegal has to offer with magnificent coastal scenery and plenty of boglands in the wilds of Donegal. Indeed the scenery on offer proved to be one of the big draws for people attending the event last year, and one of the long-term aim’s would be to turn the event into a major sporting/tourist event that would draw people to Donegal Town and the surrounding areas.
With the option of three distances to choose from, the Sportive accommodate’s a wide selection of cyclist’s. From those who are just getting into the sport to those who are looking for a real tough challenge. Many sportive’s don’t really cater to the newer cyclist but the club feel this is an important part of getting more people out on their bicycles. As such the 40km distance is perfect for the newer cyclist. You don’t need a huge amount of training and only a few weeks or so of preparation would probably see the average Joe non cyclist capable of completing the 40km route.
The other big plus is the Sportive is not a race but more of a fun day out. Yes, there will always be a few who are hammering along but really the idea is that you cycle at whatever pace you feel comfortable. There are no prizes on offer and the reward is just getting out on your bike, enjoying the countryside and the satisfaction you gain from finishing the event.
Registration for the Sportive is from 8:30am to 9:30 am at the St. John Bosco Centre in Donegal Town with the cycle starting at 10:00 from The Diamond. Helmet’s are compulsory for participation.
There will be a food stop on each route as well as hot food at the finish for those cyclist’s who participate in the 100/150km routes.
Entry Fee;
€10 for 40k
€15 for 100k/140k
A €2 supplement will apply to non members of Cycling Ireland to cover insurance costs.
Further information can be found on the club website Donegalbaycyclingclub.com or the Donegal Bay CC Spring Sportive facebook page.
