Wheelers Conquer Wicklow 200.

WHEELERS COMPLETE GRUELLING WICKLOW 200
Vanessa Rafferty, Paddy Mc Nally and Peter Corr were among a record 3,000 cyclists who braved the grueling Wicklow 200 in the Garden County on Sunday 8 June.
The event started at the Shoreline Leisure Centre in Greystones and headed towards Kilmacanogue, Roundwood, Laragh, the Wicklow Gap, Holywood and Baltinglass, for the first feed stop of the day. From there it was on to the tortuous climbs of Slieve Mann and Glenmalure before the second feed stop in Rathdrum. Continuing in a southerly direction it was on to the Meeting of the Waters and Avoca and past the now famous Ballykiss Angels pub before heading to Redcross, Ballinderrig, Kilmacurra, Ashford before arriving back at the finish line after 200 kilometres at the Shoreline Leisure Centre in Greystones.
The whole organisation on the day was of the highest order – from the sign on, to the food and drinks stops, the marshalling to the facilities at the finish. Well done to the Irish Veterans Cycling Association who organised the event.
Conditions on the day were not conducive to cycling but this did not deter all the die hards from near and far. Torrential downpours and a strong head wind made for very testing conditions.
The climbs of the Wicklow Gap, Slieve Maan and Glenmalure are renowned in the cycling world but a number of other less well known, but equally difficult climbs had to be got over on the day. The rain ceased approaching the finishing line allowing our group to cover the last 25 miles in an hour – a great feat considering the suffering endured by all in the preceding hours.
It was great to meet up with 8 of other Island Wheelers after the event. All agreed it was a memorable day’s cycling.