The Wicklow 200

The Wicklow 200 is one of the best known endurance cycles in Ireland. While researching what is was about it stated that the course was “among the most arduous and most revered annual cycling events on the world calendar”. I was immediately interested and seeing as it was a single day event meant that it could slip in nicely with my family life.

We arrived at the start area, The Bray Emmets GAA pitch, 30 minutes before we were due to set off. I was sure we wouldn’t get everything done in time. We had to find parking, get our gear together, find the sign on, sign on and then get to the start line. Oh, and did I mention that there is usually over 3000 riders. I thought the ques would be a mile long.

However, the level of organisation was second to none. We were guided directly to our parking spots in no time. Registration only took about 30 seconds and I was left wondering what I was worried about.

The bulk of the riders set off at 7a.m. but there where others that weren’t in any hurry and decided to let the rush go ahead of them. There is another shorter event that starts at 8 a.m. The Wicklow 100 and it shares much of the same route as the 200, however, they get off much lighter by not having to do 3 of the toughest climbs you can find in Wicklow.

After rolling out with a constant stream of bikes you are sent straight into climbing fairly steep roads. Just a taste for what lay ahead.

The first 3 km is climbing and then you get a brief reprieve as you pace through Enniskerry (4.8km). The climbing starts again on the 7^th km where you will rise from 100m to 300m in just 5km. So nothing you will be out of your seat for but a constant push nonetheless.

This will bring your through Djouce woods, a very popular spot for mountain bikers. If you look at the elevation profile you can see that is mostly downhill to Laragh (30km) from here. However, it doesn’t feel like that. There are some nice sections of downhill but there seems to be a lot more climbing. I think this is because most of the hills a short but sharp so you seem to be spending more time climbing than riding downhill.

The route splits in Laragh with the 100km cyclist turning south and the 200km cyclist continuing west towards the first major climb of the day, The Wicklow Gap. It’s 9km for Laragh to the top and its uphill all the way. Again, you don’t need to be out of your saddle unless you just want a different riding position for a while. My advice is to pick a nice easy gear and enjoy the views on the way up. It is such a beautiful part of the world.

Whenever, you do finally make it to the top there’s a water stop so you can fill your bottles. There are also coffee vans selling drinks and bars. These aren’t connected with the Wicklow 200 but rather local entrepreneurs cashing it on the event so don’t forget your money as they are positioned on other parts of the route when you need them most.

When you start going again you are treated to over 5 km of high speed downhill. And then another 5 km of mostly downhill but with some short climbs thrown in. There is then a nasty enough climb before another very high speed descent into Hollywood (55km). Take care here as you arrive into the village at high speed.

For me, this was the first section of the route. You then ride on bigger roads for over 40 km. This is the easiest part of the route so enjoy it while it lasts. Although the roads are bigger their not too busy as it’s Sunday and the surface is good. Mix that with a gradual downhill for most of the way and you can cover this part of the route pretty fast.

The first proper food stop is in Baltinglass (76km). You do come off the bigger road here to get to the foodstop. When I got there the entire village was taken over by cyclists sitting all over the place eating and chatting. The food was distributed in a hall where you could get your packet of sandwiches and tea or coffee. There seemed to be a lot of bananas there as well but I couldn’t find any at the time I passed through.

Once back on the main road there is a bit more climbing to do but nothing worth talking about until you pull off the main road at Cross Bridge (97.4km) This is when you will start the real test of endurance. With 100km already in the legs the climbs that come are relentless.

As soon as you pull off the main road you’re on small country roads and the climbs increase significantly. For 15km you’re hit with hard climbing with a mix of nice descents and beautiful landscapes.

Then, at 115km, you start the climb for Slieve Maan. Here you will rise 250m in just 4km. It is tough. Before, for the Wicklow Gap climb, I said just use the gears and enjoy the spin. However, for this climb you won’t have enough gears. Many cyclist have to walk it.

Once at the top there is another water fill and more local entrepreneurs selling coffee and bars.

Your not finished yet though. There is a very high speed descent into the Glenmalure valley (123.5km). Take extreme care here. There have been some awful accidents here in the past. I was hitting speed of nearly 60km/h and that’s with my breaks on.

The only problem with getting down to a middle of a valley is that you have to climb your way out the other side. Sure enough, when you hit the bottom you are straight into another hill just as hard as before.

Known locally as the Shay Elliot climb. Try to pace yourself as it will last longer than you would like. And again, a high speed descent whenever you get over the top.

There are event marshals all the way down the descents making sure everyone gets down safely. Especially when you get to the bottom of the shay elliot because you come into a T junction at a very high steep. There were a load of them blowing whistles to warn us to slow down. I don’t know how there weren’t out of breath.

This is where the 100km cyclists rejoin the loop so they really miss out of all of the hard climbing. From here you’re on bigger fast rolling roads through some really nice wooded areas until you get to Rathdrum (141.5km).

Rathdrum is the second food stop for the day. This is a little more stocked. Not only was there a better selection of sandwiches but there was also cakes and cans of coke that you could help yourself to.

From here it was just a matter of grinding out the last 60km. You cycle through some really nice countryside. They don’t call wicklow the garden county for nothing.

The route levels out as you ride up along the coast, especially as you pass through Newcastle (178km). But don’t think your finished yet. Just as you leave Greystones (187km) you start to climb again. Nothing nearly as big as what you did before but on tired legs they sting nonetheless.

The worst is when you have just 5km to go and you think it’s all done. There comes another stinger that drains any last bit of energy you had left. It only lasts for about 4 km but trust me you will remember it when you do it. The last 2 – 3 km are a nice roll back to where you started.

Here you can rack you bike and receive your finishers medal before going to get some hot food. Pasta, of course, and tea or coffee and a selection of muffins. There was great camaraderie among everyone as people exchanged stories of their day on the road.

The Wicklow 200 certainly was the toughest 200km I have ever done but is such a beautiful part of the world it is worth every ache and pain.

Link to the event here ; http://www.wicklow200.ie