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The Wicklow 200 Classic 17th June 2001 |
Course for this years Wicklow 200 Classic
As usual the event will start from the National Basdketball Arena, in Tallaght. This year riders will travel out to Manor Kilbride, some 14 miles, before encountering the first climb, up the Sally Gap. Last year we came down this side on the homeward run so you know it's a mighty climb. From the top of Sally Gap turn right for the Glenmacnass waterfall and descend into Laragh, ( Luggala is gone ).
From Laragh it's the usual climb over the Wicklow Gap. After descending the Wicklow Gap there is a major change in the route. It's down into Valleymount for the checkpoint at the community hall there. (Manor Kilbride is out).
From Valleymount(approx 46 miles) it's out onto the N81. For those only doing the first half of the Wicklow 200, about 65 miles, it's back to the finish in the Basketball Arena. For the more experienced and capable riders the course swings left along the N81 to Donard ( 60 miles ) through the Hollywood Glen.
The course gets harder from here so if you're not feeling up to completeing the full course now is the time to turn for home via the N81 and settle forr having covered about 85 miles.
From Donard it's back to the old route and up Donard hill and past the youth hostel, before tackling Ballinabarney Gap and the un-named but tough climb before Aghavannagh. Slieve Mann is back, the road has been repaired and is very good. From Slieve Mann it's down to Drumgoff and Greenanne and up that hard drag to the checkpoint in Rathdrum.
From Rathdrum we go back to Laragh for the climb up by the Glenmacnass waterfall to Sally Gap. Here again there is a change from last year. The descent from Sally Gap will be past the television mast on Kippure and down into Glencree, with a climb out of that valley up to Killakee before descending to Old Bawn and Back to Talaght.
Well that's the plan at the moment but as with last year we are the mercy of the road menders. They have a job to do and they are at the mercy of the weather, so as they say, nothing is decided until everything is decided.
Remember the Wicklow 200 Classic is like a mountain stage in the Tour De France so don't expect it to be easy. Train hard and you'll enjoy it.