A well run event

The Tour of Louth is a 112km or 55km sportif that is run annually. It’s a local one for me so do it most years and it has gotten better every year and this year was no exception.

Getting signed on

I arrived at registration in DKIT sport, not long after 9am and there was already hundreds on people around. The que was about 50 people long but it was so well organised that it only took about 5 min to get registered (and I hadn’t pre-registered).

After that you can fill up on bananas and bars and wash it down with as much tea or coffee as you would like.

10am comes around quick. There was nearly 500 riders this year. An amazing sight in itself. After a short pep talk over a megaphone we were all set loose.

Flowing start

The first 3-4 km skims around the outskirts of Dundalk so there was some traffic lights and roundabout that we had to get through straight away. Fortunately, we had the law on our side. The Garda were stopping traffic for us at all junctions until we got out-of-town. This was great because last year I remember getting stuck in traffic lights and half of the group got away from me.

After that it is a straight run to Castlebellingham. You take a right in the town sending you west through some beautiful country roads. The pace was high, as it always is on this sportif, but I’m in a good group and everyone is working well together.

I stay with this group through Ardee, Tallenstown, Louth village and back through Dundalk all the way to the dreaded Jenkinstown hill which is about 60km into the race.

This is where most groups get blown apart as it’s every man for himself. It’s not that long with about 5km in distance but it averages 8% and kicks up to and over 15% in a few places.

There is a food stop at the top where there is all the bananas and bars that you could want. Also plenty of water. After that there is a nice decent into Omeath and then onto and through Carlingford. From the feed station to Carlingford a group had formed again so it was a fast and straight run back to base at DKIT sport.

At the finish line

You’re greeted with a medal straight away. When you park your bike there is fresh sandwiches, chicken goujon’s and cocktail sausages to fill your hungry belly. And again, all the tea and coffee you could want.

Conclusion

I really can’t fault this event. Everything from the food the every junction being maned to stop traffic. It is a well planned events and I’m looking forward to next year already.

For more information about the Tout of Louth click here!