Sportives 2022

Just had a look at a few of the websites for some of the bigger sportives planned for 2022.

The Wicklow 200 is scheduled for 12 June and you can register your interest at http://www.wicklow200.ie/ No firm date for when booking opens or what the entry fee will be.

The Ring of Beara on 20 May - booking is due to open this month and you can register interest at https://ringofbearacyclekenmare.com/

The Tour de Beara on 10 September with booking opening on 4 January on https://tourdebeara.ie/

The Skoda Tour de Conamara on 28 May seems to be booked out already!

The Skoda Ring of Clare on 16 July seems to be open for booking on https://ringofclare.ie/register/

The Cliffs of Moher Cycle Challenge on 9 April is open for booking on https://eventmaster.ie/event/4KRZH4rFEe

No word yet that I can see on the Orwell Randonnee, Reservoir Dog or Causeway Coast Sportif.

Feel free to update or add to the list.

I haven’t done the Wicklow 200 in years.

I should give it another go this year.

Westportif - pencilled in for 23rd April (date was posted to Instagram) but website not updated yet.

I see the Orwell Randonnee is listed on the CI calendar as being on 30 April and the Great Dublin Bike Ride is on 25 September.

After an unfortunate gap of a few years, the Mick Byrne 200 has reappeared and is down for 10 September. Hopefully this is accurate as it was always a challenging and really friendly event.

Around the 10th of September was usually the Dying Cow, although they ran the Ardattin 200 this year instead. Apart from the cill mhantain 200 as a permanent, all my audax rides have been Sorrento so far!

Ride Dingle my only Sportive entered so far, although I guess I'll be marshalling the WW200 this year!

I have never cycled in Wicklow. I was looking at the Reservoir Dog and Grand Fondo Wicklow, they seem to have similar routes. They are both are around the same distance and amount of climbing.

The Reservoir Dog goes a bit further north into Dublin and the Grand Fondo Wicklow goes further east to Ashford and Rathdrum.

The Reservoir Dog loops back around to go over the Sally Gap a second time while the Grand Fondo Wicklow goes the by the Wicklow gap.

Which would be the best one to do?

The Wicklow 200 would be beyond my level of fitness, is that the only sportive that goes over the Shay Elliot and Slieve Maan?

I've signed up for Grand Fondo Wicklow and I'll be signing up for Reservoir Cogs too when it's open. Wicklow is a fabulous place to cycle so why not do both!

Haven't seen the 3 peaks advertised yet - like said, the food stop is opposite the lodge in glenmalure. Great cakes at the end too!

Some busy roads on the Gran Fondo route, but some nice under the radar hardship Ashford back to Roundwood!

Tour de Kilkenny 31 July.

3 peaks is in planning, date is 04APR2022 unless covid restrictions kick in. Not sure on official announcement, will put a thread up once it's open for entries.

Signed up for Tour de Connemara, want to do the reservoir cogs (great route & great club).

Grumpy at the price of the W200, might see if I can get the missus to support me on a fake version.

Want to do 2, 24hr events but travel to the events is a pisstake at the mo.

Was it not 70 or 75 the last time it took place. I doubt they will deviate much.

Emailed Elite Event Management earlier today and they confirmed the entry fee for this year is €75.

Ah balls! I didn’t know that - just reading it on their Facebook page now. That is a real shame - one of the more unique sportives I’ve participated in - glad I managed to do it last year - and was looking forward to doing it again this year 😭😭

80 quid plus 10 more CI license to do the ringofbeara cycle at end of May, what an absolute rip off. No way I'm paying that amount for a cycle. How are these prices even justified?

Some of these event management companies take a big %

Haven't heard anything myself and no recent updates on their website (I've been keeping an eye on it myself as I'd be interested in doing it again) - but I agree this is a great sportive and definitely a bit of a challenge if you take on the longer route and two climbs up Mount Leinster. I first did it 3 or 4 years ago - weather wasn't great so I was really surprised how many people still turned out to do it. Really well marshalled and fair play to them for sticking it out in the wind and rain to keep us all on the right track. I do seem to recall (possibly mistakenly) that the first food stop was quite early in the route (especially if you are planning to do one of the longer distances) but yeah, the food was great - especially the home cooked grub at the end - I was more than ready for it by the time I rolled up at the finish line.

Any word on the Wolfftrap Sportif? That was a great event, no big fuss, just a tough route but with great hospitality along the way!

I don’t think I’d pay more than €50 for any of the Sportives tbh!

I rarely even take the bag of crap that’s handed out, I just appreciate the food stops along the way.

You're more than welcome to pay €5 for a 200km+ ride to us in www.audaxireland.org

Bring your own food! We do give out nice medals if that's your thing.

I suppose it gives you a target to work towards. Personally I won't be doing it this year having done it a few times previously. 50-55 euro would be the cut off for me.

Very similar to Ring of Beara conditions. I guess there are costs that they have to commit to up front and if something (like some global pandemic - totally unbelieveable, of course!) were to emerge, that would force them to cancel, they'd still be liable for those costs. They have to insulate against that.

I signed up to the W200 today with a few club mates. The cost is high but we just can't wait to get back on the road for a couple of events this year. Personally I love a good sportive (Tour de KK is my favourite) and find the only thing that beats a sportive atmosphere is a really really good club run.

Really great forming groups on the road, and getting to ride with other clubs/riders you wouldn't normally meet.

Regarding the Orwell Randonee, may I be the first in for 2022 with feckin Lake Drive.... 😀

Planning on using MTB, Gravel, or Road bike?