About the Event
The new Visit Nenagh Classic is a one day, international style cycle race taking place on Sunday 22nd April 2012. There will be 3 races catering for all levels of racing cyclist, all starting at the Abbey Court Hotel and finishing on Pearse St. in the centre of Nenagh.
This Cycling Ireland Registered Event will feature many of Ireland’s leading riders, male and female and coming as it does just 4 weeks before the An Post Ras, it will offer the Ras participants an ideal opportunity to test their form.
The Visit Nenagh Classic promises a day’s racing with a difference for both participants and spectators alike. There will be 3 races on the day (54km, 104km, 154km) and the routes offer a variety of terrain and a number of sharp challenging climbs, beautiful scenery, and they will travel on the new N7 cycling route which is ideal for all types of cycling activity.
The race will pass through local towns and villages and as I said will make extensive use of the new N7 cycle routes, and will make a number of passes through Nenagh before crossing the finish line on Pearse Street.
What is different about this event
There will be a festival type atmosphere adding to the experience for the spectator and cyclist alike. This is the norm in many European countries with races such as “Paris Roubaix” “Amstel Gold” and “The Tour of Flanders” being among their host countries largest annual sports event.
We are extending a warm welcome to both cyclists and their families and others who plan to come to Nenagh that day and to others from near and afar who would like to come along and support or just enjoy the activities and hospitality in Nenagh on 22nd April.
The races registration starts at 09.00am at the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh and the 1st race starts at 10.30am, 2nd race at 12.45pm and 3rd race 1.00pm. Throughout the day there will be activity well into the late afternoon. Racers will come over the finish line in Pearse Street which will be closed that day.
There will also be an opportunity for families to come out and participate in a family fun cycle.
The centre of Nenagh will be a hive of activity on the day with a local food fair along with family entertainment and music.
How did it come about
A recently formed team in the town (now known as the Visit Nenagh N7 Cycling Team are committed to competitive racing and the hosting of a major event in Nenagh and the surrounding area approached me about the project. So it grew from there and with a committee now set up with representatives from the hospitality industry and promoters of cycling along with partners from North Tipperary Council, Nenagh Town Council, Shannon Development, Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau, North Tipperary Sports Partnership, Nenagh Chamber of Commerce, the Visit Nenagh Classic on April 22nd 2012 is the first step towards this goal.
This is a community positive project and an application for funding is pending with North Tipperary Leader Partnership under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. An outcome to this is expected very shortly.
We are currently seeking private sponsorship for the event so if there are companies out there who would like to play a part in this unique event, we would like to hear from them.
The Visit Nenagh N7 Cycling Team will also cycle in approx 40 races both in Ireland and internationally between now and September and promote Visit Nenagh on their jerseys. This is an innovative sports tourism approach that is receiving a very positive response.
Once we have successfully hosted the first Visit Nenagh Classic in Nenagh on 22 April, we will start planning for next year toward a weekend festival of cycling which will attract to the area other National cycling events which should bring with it international cyclists.
With our central location in Ireland and good access on motorways from airports and cities, Nenagh and Tipperary is not such a long way to get to in today’s world. County Tipperary is surrounded by 8 counties and is at the heartland of Ireland to greet and look after cyclists from around the world.
It is intended that this race will become a major part of the Irish Cycling calendar for the future. The event is being modelled on examples of best international practice
For more information see www.visitnenagh.net
