Galway Classic - Hell of the West

harringtonp · 08-04-2019 11:10pm #1

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/gravel-cycling-race-galway-classic/

This could be interesting.

Anyone remember the short pave section through kilboy house in the visit nenagh classic some years back ???

08-04-2019 11:21pm

Wow I'd not fancy a spin over this on "the good bike"

Might be worth send a few pals out there with some spare wheels during the race.

Alek · 08-04-2019 11:38pm

I'd love to be there but

PringleDemon · 09-04-2019 9:21am

Anyone who has ever ridden Ras Connachta in the past will be well used to the 'gravel ' sections .

harringtonp · 09-04-2019 12:26pm

harringtonp wrote: »

Anyone remember the short pave section through kilboy house in the visit nenagh classic some years back ???

The race was on the same day as Paris Roubaix and Rene took it through the country house estate. Fantastic idea in principle with a good smattering of the Dutch sense of humor, the stretch was short and it was something very different to throw into the mix with the climbs.

The road in was bad with some good gaps between the cobblestones and bikes were rattling like crazy. Mine survived but you could see several bikes on the side and riders were cursing after. They didn't do that again. Great memory for me but I imagine it would have been different if I had a mechanical or puncture.

doiredoire · 10-04-2019 11:44am

On July 14th Galway Bay Cycling Club are promoting a road with a difference, a road race with gravel sections.

For more information on the race you can click on the link below

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/gravel-cycling-race-galway-classic/

columbus_66 · 10-04-2019 11:55am

You do realise this is on the same day as the Mullingar GP which isin't too far away and has some bog road as well?

Weepsie · 10-04-2019 12:33pm

threads merged

25sean · 10-04-2019 1:24pm

HOLIDAYS CANCELLED!!

I'M GOING TO THAT!!!!

budgie001 · 10-04-2019 4:34pm

25sean wrote: »

HOLIDAYS CANCELLED!!

I'M GOING TO THAT!!!!

columbus_66 wrote: »

You do realise this is on the same day as the Mullingar GP which isin't too far away and has some bog road as well?

Whilst the Mullingar GP has a section of tarmac road that goes through a bog, there is no tarmac on the bog tracks/roads. They are unfinished and are proper gravel and stone. It is a road race with proper gravel sections.

columbus_66 · 11-04-2019 10:22am

It is the clashing of events that bothers me. They are 2 good events and I want to do both. I am hardly going to drive by Mullingar to go to Athenry on the day.
It is such a pity as the calendar gets worse as the year goes on. There is hardly anything on in August or September.

Bugsy2000 · 11-04-2019 1:48pm

It passes my doorstep in Ryehill so looking forward to it (as a spectator:) ) Can’t help feeling they missed a trick with the route choice though.

They cycle straight past two of the toughest climbs in the area. Tough but doable, and well known to most Galway cyclists.

One from Abbeyknockmoy church up to the nursing home and another just off the road between Ryehill church and the Roscommon road. (Both very close to each other) They’re in the area anyway and pass both climbs so could include them with little change to the course.

The race description in the article describes what sounds like those two climbs but the Strava file doesn’t include them.

keoclassic · 11-04-2019 7:36pm

Know these roads like the back of my hand, looking forward to doing the A3 version......but I'm fu@ked if I'm doing it on good wheels. Pro's get equipment for free, I have to spend money that's hard earned for my gear!

CramCycle · 11-04-2019 8:14pm

I'm in, hurrah

CramCycle · 15-04-2019 11:01am

Jebus, I stuck up a note on the family Calendar this morning, CramCycle in Athenry for the day, with no explanation. My partner didn't ask anything, just clicked OK. Must check what I am down for on the Life Insurance policy, not normally this eager to let me run off on a Sunday.

doiredoire · 15-04-2019 12:14pm

We have made a few videos of the different sectors. There has been huge interest in the race. Entries are limited to 80 in each race so it will book out. The A3 race is almost half booked out at this stage.

'Carrefour' Sector https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTAraztoXbk
'Arenberg' sector https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgMIbqkxA9M

You can enter the race by clicking on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/galwayclassic-2019-tickets-60260827758?aff=ebapi

CramCycle · 16-04-2019 11:59am

Finally all my commutes among the N11 cycle path will pay in regards preparation for this :pac:

magicbastarder · 16-04-2019 12:50pm

are they throwing in close passes from aircoaches into the race to make it more exciting?

seanin4711 · 16-04-2019 10:43pm

PringleDemon wrote: »

Anyone who has ever ridden Ras Connachta in the past will be well used to the 'gravel ' sections .

or the croi cycle from oughterard to moycullen pothole section

doiredoire · 27-05-2019 11:13am

Here are a few videos of some of the gravel sectors of the Galway Classic. Races are being limited to 80 riders in each race and are likely to book out so register early if you want to guarantee a spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57w9GPT0haA&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTAraztoXbk&t=52s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgMIbqkxA9M&t=4s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GvpsWE2laI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHLHtD1VMAs&t=9s

You can register by clicking on the link below

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/galwayclassic-2019-tickets-60260827758?aff=ebapi

Hope to see some of you in July

CramCycle · 27-05-2019 11:17am

Hey doiredoire, presuming you are one of the organisers. I am all signed up and looking forward to it, just wondering, is it too late or logistically possible to lengthen the A4 race or would you consider it for next year, I think there would be a lot more interest from A4s if it was closer to the A3 in regards length.

doiredoire · 27-05-2019 11:27am

CramCycle wrote: »

Hey doiredoire, presuming you are one of the organisers. I am all signed up and looking forward to it, just wondering, is it too late or logistically possible to lengthen the A4 race or would you consider it for next year, I think there would be a lot more interest from A4s if it was closer to the A3 in regards length.

Designing the routes for each race has been very complicated as the routes are very complex and earlier versions of the routes had the danger of the three races interfering with the other races so we had to make changes and ensure that the races stayed separate.

The A4 race wont be changed this year but it is certainly something we would look at for next year

doiredoire · 27-05-2019 12:26pm

Next Sunday Galway Bay Cycling Club will be doing a recce of the Galway Classic route. We will be cycling out from Galway to Athenry and then doing the 120k A1/2 route and then back to Galway, 140k in total. Anyone interested in looking over the course is welcome to come along and join us for the spin.

Leaving from Dunnes Stores car park on the Headford Road at 8.30am on Sunday.

https://www.strava.com/routes/19036666?fbclid=IwAR13RtGmjfDswkxYOiWNU56qPwvpNyqBuC9gdeKgZvC4aezEPa55vEJF4n4

CramCycle · 27-05-2019 1:02pm

doiredoire wrote: »

Designing the routes for each race has been very complicated as the routes are very complex and earlier versions of the routes had the danger of the three races interfering with the other races so we had to make changes and ensure that the races stayed separate.

The A4 race wont be changed this year but it is certainly something we would look at for next year

Cheers, didn't think it would change this year but, and this is a personal opinion, I long for longer A4 races. This said, I'll come back to you after the race and let you know if I was being overly ambitious.

doiredoire · 27-05-2019 2:22pm

CramCycle wrote: »

Cheers, didn't think it would change this year but, and this is a personal opinion, I long for longer A4 races. This said, I'll come back to you after the race and let you know if I was being overly ambitious.

We would be very interested in hearing people's feedback from the race

CramCycle · 02-07-2019 10:07am

Had a look at the videos for A4, some nice narrow bits on draggy climbs, should be good for breaking the race up, anyone from around here heading down. I have booked Irish Rail for the trip as its only a km away from sign on. When does sign on close, and will they be announcing numbers before the day?

doiredoire · 03-07-2019 11:46am

CramCycle wrote: »

Had a look at the videos for A4, some nice narrow bits on draggy climbs, should be good for breaking the race up, anyone from around here heading down. I have booked Irish Rail for the trip as its only a km away from sign on. When does sign on close, and will they be announcing numbers before the day?

Sign on closes at 1.30 pm. First race off at 2.

We have limited each race to 80 riders. At the moment it is looking like the A3 race will sell out. Once we reach 80 riders we wont be accepting any more entries.

It is looking likely we will be taking entries for A1/2 and the A4 race on the day.

CramCycle · 03-07-2019 12:48pm

doiredoire wrote: »

Sign on closes at 1.30 pm. First race off at 2.

We have limited each race to 80 riders. At the moment it is looking like the A3 race will sell out. Once we reach 80 riders we wont be accepting any more entries.

It is looking likely we will be taking entries for A1/2 and the A4 race on the day.

I'd expect with payday just gone, you might see the final flourish of entries this week, hopefully there will be a nice crowd in A4 so as to keep the pace up, as well as choke the laneways when people try to break away and give a fighting chance.

Finnrocco · 03-07-2019 1:05pm

doiredoire wrote: »

We would be very interested in hearing people's feedback from the race

It looks like it could be epic, need a bit of rain though.

doiredoire · 03-07-2019 7:06pm

Finnrocco wrote: »

It looks like it could be epic, need a bit of rain though.

We could do without the rain. The courses are challenging enough!

harringtonp · 14-07-2019 10:15pm

How did it go guys ?

Good race ?

Any punctures, mechanicals or crashes :pac: :pac: :pac: ?

CramCycle · 14-07-2019 10:29pm

harringtonp wrote: »

How did it go guys ?

Brilliantly, one of the best run races in the country

Good race ?

Ours stayed together for the most part despite the best of intentions from a few of us at the front. A3 , A2 and A1 were obliterated but in a great way for spectators. A guy I got the train with came in looking exactly like Eddy Merck in the 1975 Paris Roubais, and this was a dry day.

Any punctures, mechanicals or crashes :pac: :pac: :pac: ?

None for me. I heard of a few but it was more the epicness of the course than any issues from listening at the end, although i heard one SDCC rider was climbing over a wall when the group he broke a way from caught up with him after he supermanned over it.

flash84962 · 15-07-2019 8:58am

I did the a3 race. Best day racing I have ever had. Massive effort by galway bay to run it. There was over 65 marshals. Two/three stationed at every junction. Neutral service and broom wagon with every race.

The route is pure savagery. You have to work for every metre of it. The north loop above abbeyknockmoy includes the
4 bog/rough sectors which just blew up the race. There is no easy way to get through it. Just pedal like feck.

The a3 race was aggressive, couple of lads trying to split it in the neutral zone. That set the tone for the day really. It was like the charge of the light brigade to get onto the first sector in Monivea at 10k. This is where that guy flew over the wall. I got in the break after that but was spat out in the first really rough sector. I rode solo through the first bog sector and then was picked up by the second group on the road. I was tipping away okay, but punctured 300m from the end of the last bog sector. Effectively that was my race over. Got a wheel and finished off the route.

The vision and organization to get this unique race up and running is a credit to everyone involved.

harringtonp · 15-07-2019 3:52pm

What type of bikes did you see. Ordinary Sunday race bikes ? Different wheels ? CX bikes ?

flash84962 · 15-07-2019 5:15pm

Most lads on their normal race bike. 1 guy in the a1/2 on a cannondale gravel bike and another on a cross. A3+4 all looked like they were on road bikes. I was on a TCR with 25mm tyres.

Loads of pics on Facebook. Sean Rowe, John hammer. Get an idea of the bikes ad sectors.

doiredoire · 15-07-2019 5:17pm

harringtonp wrote: »

What type of bikes did you see. Ordinary Sunday race bikes ? Different wheels ? CX bikes ?

Most rode their normal bikes. I know a fair few didn't use their normal race wheels.

thekooman · 16-07-2019 11:31pm

doiredoire wrote: »

Most rode their normal bikes. I know a fair few didn't use their normal race wheels.

i did the A3 race and rode on my Canyon Ultimate CF SLX with Mavic Cosmic Elite (training wheels), 28mm Schwalbe Durano on the rear and an old GP4000 25mm on the front. kept pressure at 85 to 90psi and it handled like a dream. literally passed out 10+ lads at the bog/grass section on the bog road. Race was split to muck even with 40k left. 5 up the road and it ended up with me in a group of 4 chasing for the last 20k. we were honest enough and kept trucking where it came down to a sprint for 6th place... I wont say how i did! :rolleyes:

Indeed, it was probably one of the best organised races ive been at it since i started racing 6 years ago. a credit to the club. Its a shame there weren't more in attendance but im glad there were no juniors cos they would bomb into sectors with no care (or jobs to go to the next day!) and there would have been incidents. there were lots of punctures and i brought a frame pump and a tube/levers in the back pocket.
yep, seen that lad superman over the wall but he was grand as I seen him at the end cycle in.
The winner was a marked man but not even the break could keep with him, chapeau to him.

I hope Galway bay can run it next year but with the low attendance, bike marshalls, signage, etc I cant see how they broke even. Maybe the pics and the comments on social media might persuade some more to do it next year.

harringtonp · 17-07-2019 8:59am

I thought the races were pre entry, capped and sold out ? No ?

CramCycle · 17-07-2019 10:30am

harringtonp wrote: »

I thought the races were pre entry, capped and sold out ? No ?

Not sold out, just closed pre entry, they said there would be on the day sign on.

doiredoire · 17-07-2019 12:27pm

thekooman wrote: »

I hope Galway bay can run it next year but with the low attendance, bike marshalls, signage, etc I cant see how they broke even. Maybe the pics and the comments on social media might persuade some more to do it next year.

Yes we have lost money on the race but I think we have created the most iconic race in the country. The photos and videos look like something from the Paris Roubaix or the Strade Bianchi. These photos/videos will help us market the race next year as will the comments from people who did this years race

Have no fear the race will be run next year. We intend it to become an annual event and to build and grow it

nevskin · 19-07-2019 12:59pm

doiredoire wrote: »

Yes we have lost money on the race but I think we have created the most iconic race in the country. The photos and videos look like something from the Paris Roubaix or the Strade Bianchi. These photos/videos will help us market the race next year as will the comments from people who did this years race

Have no fear the race will be run next year. We intend it to become an annual event and to build and grow it

Fair play folks- immense efforts from all at GBCC.

Rode the A3 race- chain droped in Moyne Park, chased back on, chain dropped again, no getting back in after that- finished it out. The non gravel part of the race is no easy ride - all in all a hard race.

The coverage & pix will help sell this next year I would have thought..

at1withmyself · 19-07-2019 2:23pm

doiredoire wrote: »

Yes we have lost money on the race but I think we have created the most iconic race in the country. The photos and videos look like something from the Paris Roubaix or the Strade Bianchi. These photos/videos will help us market the race next year as will the comments from people who did this years race

Have no fear the race will be run next year. We intend it to become an annual event and to build and grow it

Any links to the pics and videos?

doiredoire · 19-07-2019 3:26pm

at1withmyself wrote: »

Any links to the pics and videos?

Donal Kelly’s Photos

https://www.facebook.com/donakello/media_set?set=a.10157719241773470&type=3

Sean Rowe’s Photos
https://www.facebook.com/sean.rowe.545/media_set?set=a.10220314090906950&type=3

John Hammer’s Photos
https://www.facebook.com/sean.rowe.545/media_set?set=a.10220314090906950&type=3

Jimmy McElroy’s Photos

https://www.facebook.com/pg/jimmymcelroyphotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2103149516655577&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDbqKTjLPYOrFTHfgyVzdv1dF4pLAzpm2naJwkr-Xsjp0EFUavfj-VVVKb0v8dKtYDs9nDetZlXnDPS3Q5pFKYa9HqhHRC7TSJ_LOfuov17dp4IFMHJFe8I9_eVb8adldupRseICDGDG3HE9eyFUDTMsY1eRY7LC14ahfWctLMw23P9KOYie6IABir3G9tlrDeVDuoR-gulasBzcJMkDOsvDhZ29e-XSHCkw-zTowWOew2yc3icelmUdB0-hmCnOnjweclDZBdFd_wM4NqVSvsqEsm8W27SMmk-MTwb5Sji2ZUWmy4UrlC4F1W6E0VipXPqzw3jXRQ0tbYRzeKhbJXpjXdknathFLYRWKdQkdJHYsnJ054ZnxiatcsxcRR4S8t96bhxL68_ZXhttk8B8wxPh0yjTlR77g-wG-Aef0zHpAjB2EkU57CurSnLCJi78Zyhl_zfzkqUYwSDz56hK62Q1JvspJP1zL77ei3DElHAxjS5X4iDdQdHxjt4FAqRTp_lASDeT3XgjUVNz1XaJlDTJCfa4dpSe15DeytfmRyjAPfn&__tn__=-UC-R

doiredoire · 03-03-2020 3:42pm

The Galway Classic is back against this year at the later date of August 2nd. This year we have added a sportif taking in ten of the sectors on the Saturday.

For more information you can have a look at the link below:

https://www.irishcyclingnews.com/ride-the-classic-2020-hell-of-the-west-2020/

mitchelsontour · 04-03-2020 1:49am

I am ready to book flights home for the sportif - looks great.

columbus_66 · 04-03-2020 10:07am

I'm aiming to do it this year, last year it clashed with the Mullingar GP so I can imagine that why the numbers were low. I hope to do it on a cross carbon bike as if the weather is bad it will be more suitable than a road bike. Last year it looked like you only had dust to clog up the bike!

doiredoire · 09-09-2020 11:02pm

Interview with Cathal Dillane about this year Galway Classic which is being run on Sunday 25th of October. We are also running a sportif on the course on the day before the race. Links to register for the race and sportif can be found in the article below.

Due to Covid 19 the races are limited to 70 riders per race and the sportif to 150. Book early as they will sell out.

https://www.irishcyclingnews.com/provinces-to-ride-the-galway-classic/

doiredoire · 25-09-2020 5:34pm

If anyone wants to enter the Galway Classic on October 25th they may be too late as the A3 race has sold out and only 15 places left in the A1/2 race.

There will be provincials teams form Connacht, Munster and Leinster in the A1/2 race.

doiredoire · 28-06-2021 12:59pm

Galway Bay CC are promoting the Galway Classic weekend on August 21/22nd. On Saturday 21st we are running a sportive on the classic route and on the Sunday an A3 race and an A1/2 race.

Entries to the two events are NOW available:
Ride The Classic Sportif, Aug 21st: https://eventmaster.ie/event/vKWjiPoSb4
Galway Classic Road Race, Aug 22nd: https://eventmaster.ie/event/1vbGhwDHeM

CramCycle · 28-06-2021 1:56pm

I'm in, and now I am A3 I can have proper gravel sections to ride on. Quality run race last time I was at it, great fun and the lads from the west were honest racers, no messing about.

Macy0161 · 28-06-2021 3:06pm

Very tempted if I can get a pass!

Galway Classic - Hell of the West

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