One of Ireland’s toughest one-day races, the Shay Elliot Memorial Race will take place this Sunday on the hilly County Wicklow roads he trained on. The 60th edition of the race, sponsored by New Ireland Assurance and run by Bray Wheelers CC, commemorates the Dublin cyclist who became the first Irishman to pull on the Tour de France’s yellow jersey back in 1963.
The 152-kilometre epic will begin on Bray Main Street, and the riders will take on the day’s toughest climb, Glenmalure, after 116 kilometres. The climb up from Glenmalure to Shay Elliott’s remembrance stone is the deciding test, with the summit finish coming some 30 kilometres later on Djouce.
Last year it was won by Tyrone man Marc Potts, but the Neon Velo rider will this year be racing in England at the Lincoln Grand Prix, leaving the door open for a National Road Series rider to score.
U23 star Darragh O’Mahony (O’Leary Stone Kanturk) leads the NRS table by three points, after winning Round 1 in Carlow and finishing in the points at the Nenagh Classic.
Chasing him is Nenagh Classic winner Mark Dowling, racing for Strata 3 VeloRevolution this year, hotly-tipped An Post Ras hope Matteo Cigala and fellow U23 Mark O’Callaghan – both riding for the Aqua Blue Academy. Just nine points separate the top four in the table, and Sunday’s winner will grab 40.
Sign on opens at 8.30am on Sunday in the Bray Wheelers Clubhouse, where a Shay Elliott memorabilia display will be on show. The race will roll-out at 11am to head down Bray’s main street and out into the hills for 152 kilometres.
Spectators heading to the main climb at Glenmalure are advised to arrive before 12.25pm to ensure a good viewing spot. The supporting race is set to pass first, containing Ireland’s leading junior riders, with the National Road Series event expecting to follow after 1.30pm.
Arrival at the finish on Djouce is estimated at 2.48pm.
Full 60th Shay Elliott Memorial Race route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12624145
Ailbhe McBin