Island Wheelers Cycling Club, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. Northern Ireland Official website for the Island Wheelers Cycling Club
Sunday 5th June saw the annual excellent Tour of Tyrone sportive organised by the Island Wheelers go ahead. The organisers and sponsors had everything planned till perfection, but unfortunately no-one told the weather. With a lower expected turnout due the heavy rain and flooding in parts, 60 hard core riders pulled on their rain gear, put their gels and bars (provided by one of our excellent sponsors Performance Nutrition) into their pockets, took a last glance to the heavens praying the rain would ease off and then with grit and determination, eased the many carbon bikes out of Coalisland and towards the many miles ahead.
There was no doubt about it, this was a tough route, made even tougher by the conditions. Anyone who managed the full 98mile distance yesterday should hold their heads high this morning and count themselves a damn good cyclist. The riders were consistently being shadowed by the support crew – a big thanks to the guys in the vans who done an excellent job fixing the half dozen punctures and one chain break, getting all the riders back on the road again. Food was always on hand from the vans – and our two shop stops, Supervalu, Aughnacloy and Centra, Ballygawley provided some respite to the riders with treats such and chocolate, fruit and water top ups – but as the day wore on, the riders didn’t want to stop too long in the conditions and were eager to get on the road once again.
All riders made it back to Gortgonis with a smile on their face, hot showers and changing facilities at hand and then had their bellies filled with the fantastic spread of sandwiches, buns, desserts and tea/coffee that the Island Wheelers are well known for putting on at all their events!
A big thank you goes out to all who helped make the event possible – all the committee members who were involved in pulling together the vital parts of the day – and of course our sponsors who provided the well received goodie bags each rider got before they set off – thanks to Performance Nutrition, Intersport, Cookstown Cycles, Inspired Cycling, Advanced Cyro Care, EB Sports Clinic, The Sports Studio and Dungannon and South Tyrone Council.
A draw was made after the event for the three £20 vouchers kindly provided by Cookstown Cycles and these were won by Paddy McNally, Martin Fox and Damian McAllister – well done lads.
