The 2010 Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford, Sunday August 29th

kphelan

Entry is now open for the 2010 Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford
Sunday August 29th 2010

There are 3 routes to choose from:

The 160k Kelly Comeragh Challenge
The NEW 90k Kelly Coast
The 50k Kelly Cruise

Also for some family fun a new event has been added for 2010 on Saturday 28th August the 10k Kelly Ten for over 7's

The 2010 event promises to be bigger & better that ever. 2009 saw over 2,700 cyclists participate in the event & raise over 55k for the Irish Cancer Society.

This is an event not to be missed - there will be a souvenir jersey for all participants & a great Waterford Welcome!!

check out www.theseankellytour.com for more info & registration!

PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY - NO REGISTRATION ON THE DAY!!

jwshooter

kphelan wrote: »

Entry is now open for the 2010 Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford
Sunday August 29th 2010

There are 3 routes to choose from:

The 160k Kelly Comeragh Challenge
The NEW 90k Kelly Coast
The 50k Kelly Cruise

Also for some family fun a new event has been added for 2010 on Saturday 28th August the 10k Kelly Ten for over 7's

The 2010 event promises to be bigger & better that ever. 2009 saw over 2,700 cyclists participate in the event & raise over 55k for the Irish Cancer Society.

This is an event not to be missed - there will be a souvenir jersey for all participants & a great Waterford Welcome!!

check out www.theseankellytour.com for more info & registration!

PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY - NO REGISTRATION ON THE DAY!!

i hope the T shirts are bigger also .

blanco

Why no map for the 90k?

penexpers

New route - probably hasn't been mapped out yet.

blanco

There's a discription. Just no map

Stokolan

Looks like the 90k is the coast road from Dungarvan to Tramore and back, but going slightly away from the coast a bit on the way towards Tramore

poolboy

How hard is the 160k the description seems designed to put you off would like to do it but time for training wont be huge for next few months

CheGuedara

@ poolboy: The 160 is a good one but a TOUGH one. I've not missed it since it's first year and I would thoroughly recommend it. BUT it is a proper challenge cycle.

First it's the distance it is - you'd really need to have at least a few 160km rides under the belt to get around this one in good order.

Secondly it has some significant enough climbs on the route (assuming it is unchanged from previous)

1. Seskin Kill - a short but steep hill bridged in the middle by a hairpin turn. Could pull the legs off a donkey - worth either a) being a strong climber or b) having some good climbing gears to help with this one
2. Powers the Pot - longish drag of a hill, steepness not really a factor in the difficulty just duration and road that doesn't give a lot back to you (a bit dead)
3. Mahon Falls - a good climb, longish with varying steepness with a bit of a kicker at the last 50mtrs. Weather a bit of a factor on this one - with a head wind it's serious work, without its still work and with a tailwind I haven't experienced. Extreme caution on the descent advised.
4. Mama Rd. - Actually this one is a piece of p!ss, just to pace yourself over the route so that you've energy in the legs when you come to this point. Once you've this done you're on the road home!

Ok, you might be going 'jeebus, it still sounds like a lot of hard work' but trust me on this - if you can get some quality training in (get distance and climbing into the legs) and complete the course there's a great sense of achievement and you can chalk it down as completing one of the most testing sportives in the country.

DirkVoodoo

Best...sportive...ever!

Where else can you casually ride up alongside a cycling legend and tell him to put the hammer down?

Che is right, the 160 is a tough one but if you can ride around 160km and take in some of the big hills of wicklow (say a wicklow gap, SM and SE training route) then you can do this. It is all about pacing like he says, try not to use up too much fuel before Mahon Falls. Don't go crazy on Seskin!

sy

Agree with Dirk. Best sportive of the lot. Also allows certain Italian cyclists to pose as they crest Mahon Falls with a smile on their face
Will we be seeing the Liquigas-Doimo gear this August?

thebouldwhacker

CheGuedara wrote: »

Seskin Kill - a short but steep hill bridged in the middle by a hairpin turn. Could pull the legs off a donkey - worth either a) being a strong climber or b) having some good climbing gears to help with this one

1. Powers the Pot - longish drag of a hill, steepness not really a factor in the difficulty just duration and road that doesn't give a lot back to you (a bit dead)
2. Mahon Falls - a good climb, longish with varying steepness with a bit of a kicker at the last 50mtrs. Weather a bit of a factor on this one - with a head wind it's serious work, without its still work and with a tailwind I haven't experienced. Extreme caution on the descent advised.
3. Mama Rd. - Actually this one is a piece of p!ss, just to pace yourself over the route so that you've energy in the legs when you come to this point. Once you've this done you're on the road home!

My god it reads like a desert menu from a michelin star restaurant!!

I Cant wait!

@Poolboy you have over 90 days to get ready for this, plenty of time, you may not stay with the lead group but you'll get around with a smile at the end. Thats the beauty of sportives as opposed to races!

Esroh

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Best...sportive...ever!

Where else can you casually ride up alongside a cycling legend and tell him to put the hammer down?

Che is right, the 160 is a tough one but if you can ride around 160km and take in some of the big hills of wicklow (say a wicklow gap, SM and SE training route) then you can do this. It is all about pacing like he says, try not to use up too much fuel before Mahon Falls. Don't go crazy on Seskin!

This was done on top of one of the climbs in Tour of Sligo but the guy could not match SK's descending skills and ended up on his arse in a bog:D

sy

Esroh wrote: »

This was done on top of one of the climbs in Tour of Sligo but the guy could not match SK's descending skills and ended up on his arse in a bog:D

What do you mean SK! Dirkvoodoo was referring to me

penexpers

Looks like they are completely splitting the old 100k and 160k routes, which is a good thing.

kphelan

The Map fo the 90k Kelly Coast is now available to view on
the Sean Kelly Tour Website! www.theseankellytour.com

Esroh

sy wrote: »

What do you mean SK! Dirkvoodoo was referring to me

I presumed he was being sarcastic thats why I thought it as a good thing to tell the SK story.:D

100Suns

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Best...sportive...ever!

Where else can you casually ride up alongside a cycling legend and tell him to put the hammer down?

Che is right, the 160 is a tough one but if you can ride around 160km and take in some of the big hills of wicklow (say a wicklow gap, SM and SE training route) then you can do this. It is all about pacing like he says, try not to use up too much fuel before Mahon Falls. Don't go crazy on Seskin!

+1. Best I've done. Organisation, food, facilities, people second to none.

To top it off I got to ride with the great man and got my picture in Cycling Weekly riding with him. He filters up and down the peloton between Dungarvan and Carrick like only the pros can. Rode up Seskin Hill with him -he told us he used to do it on his fathers old black bike. We were struggling on a 39/25! A great man and a great ambassador for the sport.

Descent of Powers the Pot in particaulr can catch people out-hit 90+ coming down and a rider in front vaulted the hedge on the first bend (he survived but the bike needed work).

Captain Havoc

100Suns wrote: »

+1. Best I've done. Organisation, food, facilities, people second to none.

To top it off I got to ride with the great man and got my picture in Cycling Weekly riding with him. He filters up and down the peloton between Dungarvan and Carrick like only the pros can. Rode up Seskin Hill with him -he told us he used to do it on his fathers old black bike. We were struggling on a 38/25! A great man and a great ambassador for the sport.

Descent of Powers the Pot in particaulr can catch people out-hit 90+ coming down and a rider in front vaulted the hedge on the first bend (he survived but the bike needed work).

That descent off Powers the Pot is something else alright, you don't even realise it until your doing 60kph+

paulieb2006

Cant wait for this one myself. Worked up to the 100k last year, using The An Post Burren, Pokadot challange in ballinrobe and a few others to get the distance.
This year I am doing the Tour De Cure, Croi Tour de Lough Corrib, An Post Burren Challenge and Ring of Kerry to build up to the 160k in Tour of Waterford. Really looking forward to it.
Its definitely the best organized Sportive which I have done. The new 90k route is a testing spin not many big climbs but some nasty little lumps of about 3-400m but of a serious gradient. I have a mobile home on clonea strand in Dungarvin and use that route for training quite a bit.
BRING IT ON........

Deisetrek

Just a quick bit of information for those doing the 160k . I had a spin this morning up Seskin , it's been closed for the last 2 or 3 weeks . Waterford county council have done a great job on that little hairpin bend you come across halfway up ( before the ascent to the golf club) . It was always a bit hairy trying to negotiate it with lots of riders turning at the same time , but they've done a great job of widening it and re-surfacing that section . Should be a great help .

DirkVoodoo

Deisetrek wrote: »

Just a quick bit of information for those doing the 160k . I had a spin this morning up Seskin , it's been closed for the last 2 or 3 weeks . Waterford county council have done a great job on that little hairpin bend you come across halfway up ( before the ascent to the golf club) . It was always a bit hairy trying to negotiate it with lots of riders turning at the same time , but they've done a great job of widening it and re-surfacing that section . Should be a great help .

Awesome. I think Seskin is the best part of the whole day, everyone is still together (Mahon Falls tends to be more spread out) and it's short and steep enough to give it some welly without having to worry about pacing.

Hopefully this year I can get my photo on that hairpin, if the photographers frequent this forum PLEASE get one of me!

poolboy

Thanks for the replies 160k it is so, not to worried about the distance (doing rok) just had no idea what the climbs are like down there the slieve blooms are my training hills so i guess ill have to head for them every chance i get

Aquos76

I rode up seskin on Thursday just before the Ras, and the co council have done a superb job on the bend in the middle of it, far safer going up that part part in a bunch now, pity they didn't level out the last 100 metres aswell though:D

Bikerbhoy

Captain Havoc wrote: »

That descent off Powers the Pot is something else alright, you don't even realise it until your doing 60kph+

60 KPH...... ???? get outa that .... lay off the brakes will ya

MushGSXR

just signed up for the coast, first proper road cycle i have signed for, looking forward to it.

monkeyslayer

Would I be allowed do the 160 on an MTB? I don't own a road bike but I like going up hills

CheGuedara

monkeyslayer wrote: »

Would I be allowed do the 160 on an MTB? I don't own a road bike but I like going up hills

Don't think they'll stop you but you'll be at a disadvantage for the day. No one you could borrow a road bike from?

recedite

kphelan wrote: »

The Map fo the 90k Kelly Coast is now available to view on
the Sean Kelly Tour Website! www.theseankellytour.com

Not a great map; where exactly is the top of powers the pot and how high is it?

Junior

recedite wrote: »

Not a great map; where exactly is the top of powers the pot and how high is it?

Powers the Pot is on the 160k route not the 90k route

recedite

Junior wrote: »

Powers the Pot is on the 160k route not the 90k route

Sorry, yeah I knew that, but i wasnt making myself clear. I see now there is an altitude graph thingy which puts it at just over 400m above sea level(ie the start at Dungarvan is at sea level). I presume the top is somewhere in the brown coloured area of the map.The text is not pinpointing it though.

mcgratheoin

Here is the route on mapmyride.
I've attached an excel file with the elevation/distance on it - it's easier to pick out markers than the mmr elevation graphics - the distance on those is always a bit weird.

The top of Powers the Pot is after 91km, the top of Mahon Falls is after about 123km and Mama peaks at about 136km.

grizzly_beer

I'll probably do this, I'm just deciding whether to do the 90km or 160km. Honestly the 90km sounds way to easy. But the description of the 160km is a bit intimidating. I just did the ring of Kerry, how much harder would would ye say this is?

CheGuedara

If you found the ROK tough then you'll either need to put some good distance and climbing into the legs to do the 160km with any comfort.

To compare the two events -

distance: not much in it (distance is distance)
climbs: all SKT climbs are more work than either Coomachiste or Molls Gap (some significantly so)

BUT - you've the bones of two months to train up to it if you want to give it a lash with the added confidence that you know you're capable of a 160km ride. Just get few more 100km+ rides and a bit of hillwork done to make life a bit easier on Seskin Hill & Mahon Falls. You could take in a few more sportives in the mean time to help in this (An Post Tour of Meath and the Trip to Tipp are two that spring to mind).

Get the training in, set your sights high and if you feel good when the day comes give it a go

keano007

REALLY looking forward to this one, its in my home town too so its gonna be nice to do this again this year (fitter this year though). I did the 100km last year but I'm gonna do the 160km this year.

Anyone on here know how it compares to the Mick Byrne 160km....It was the longest spin i ever done this year and i finished it in 6hr 30min.
It's going to be a nice training spin for me as well, heading to the states cycling for 6 days in September.

showry

grizzly_beer wrote: »

I'll probably do this, I'm just deciding whether to do the 90km or 160km. Honestly the 90km sounds way to easy. But the description of the 160km is a bit intimidating. I just did the ring of Kerry, how much harder would would ye say this is?

This year's 90km is a lot harder than the previous years' 100km. There are no long climbs as such but that coast road is very lumpy with quite a few fairly steep bits.

paulieb2006

I am in Dungarven at the moment with the family for the week. Did the ROK on saturday. Going to do the 90k on Wed or Thu. I know the road a bit and wouldnt say it was easier than last years 100k. Lots of little 4-500m hills but are VERY steep.

SubLuminal

I... I THINK... I might do the 90k..

Still time to train up for it do you guys think, for someone whos usual cycling is doing 40k laps of phoenix park a few times a week?

CheGuedara

SubLuminal wrote: »

I... I THINK... I might do the 90k..

Still time to train up for it do you guys think, for someone whos usual cycling is doing 40k laps of phoenix park a few times a week?

Defo time to train up to it!

Might be worth your while to take in a few longer and hillier rides in the run up just to set the legs up for the hills and distance & make life a little easier on you perhaps

DO IT

mcgratheoin

SubLuminal wrote: »

I... I THINK... I might do the 90k..

Still time to train up for it do you guys think, for someone whos usual cycling is doing 40k laps of phoenix park a few times a week?

:rolleyes: Train up for it? Jeez, SubLuminal if you're doing 40k several times a week with a few of the hills in the park then you'll have no problem cranking out 90k in a group already. Especially if you stop for a bite to eat in Tramore half way around the spin.
Definitely do it!

CheGuedara

Yes, this year you can cycle with one of our own legendary boardsies

TinyExplosions

That's Emty in the middle, isn't it?

DirkVoodoo

The famous Laois smile. I wonder if she will get recognised much on the day?

Junior

There's no entry on the day as well lads, it's pre-reg only.

CarlosK

Question for anyone who took part last year...

Does anyone know approx what time the spin starts at? I cant see anything listed on the site just yet. I'd be interested in trying out the 90km challenge, but I'd have to travel from Carrick on Shannon. I'm not sure I can get down the day before the race, but can get accommodation and stay over on the day of the race, returning back on the Monday.

I reckon I'll be killing myself here, but I'm hoping there's a slight chance I could make it.

CarlosK

Sorry all... just found it... 9.30am start for the 90km spin.... looks like I wont be making it this year... shame tho!!!

SKT Waterford

Next Date for the Diaries is ..........
Sunday 29th August - The Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford

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www.theseankellytour.com

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austinbyrne21

Is there anyone that's done the Tour of Meath 100km who's familiar with the 90km route for this one? Just looking to see how they compare. Is the Tour of Waterford much tougher?

poolboy

Ok 110k of the tour of kilkenny yesterday in just under 4 hours rolling found it tough but enjoyable but had reached my limit of hills on the day i think. My question is am i mad to be thinking of the 160 for this how do they compare

Captain Havoc

poolboy wrote: »

Ok 110k of the tour of kilkenny yesterday in just under 4 hours rolling found it tough but enjoyable but had reached my limit of hills on the day i think. My question is am i mad to be thinking of the 160 for this how do they compare

I think the SK is about the same in difficulty as the TdKK. If you had it in the tank after yesterday then you should be able to do the 160km. 110km in under four hours is very good. Seskin Hill is short but very sharp, Powers the Pot is a long drag and Mahon Falls is a high and difficult enough climb but manageable. Just judging on what you said there, I'd say you're up for it.

poolboy

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I think the SK is about the same in difficulty as the TdKK. If you had it in the tank after yesterday then you should be able to do the 160km. 110km in under four hours is very good. Seskin Hill is short but very sharp, Powers the Pot is a long drag and Mahon Falls is a high and difficult enough climb but managable. Just judging on what you said there, I'd say you're up for it.

Thanks captain thats good to hear suppose im just looking for reassurance im not going way out of my depth would plan to take it much easier on SK found myself with 19mph av at first waterstop yesterday dont think id get away with that in waterford.

recedite

Don't underestimate the Mama Road; its a long drag and you hit it when energy reserves are low. I would say to anyone worried; ride the 160 km route, see the spectacular scenery, then see how you feel after Mahon Falls. There is a shortcut back to Dungarvan before Mama Road (back down the main road you came out at the start).
Inglorious retreat maybe, but you have seen the best of it, and survived.