Registration for the 2022 Galway Classic is now open at www.ridetheclassic.com, and this years event promises to be bigger and better than the successful previous versions. Since the inaugural running of the Galway Classic in 2019 the race has grown in stature and is already one of the biggest races on the Irish cycling calendar.
This year sees further major development with the involvement of British Elite development squads in the men's race and the addition of a separate women's race, Galway Classic Mná.
In what is a big step forward for the Galway Classic, three top British teams will compete in this years event, which is a much tougher race at 150km long with 13 off-road sectors.
Top amateur development teams Spirit BSS, Cycling Sheffield, and Dolan Ellesse Race Team will travel to Athenry in Co Galway to compete for the 2022 'Hell of the West' Classic title.
And with representative teams from the Irish provinces also taking part, it is surely going to be a hard fought battle across the bog roads and farm tracks that give the Galway Classic its gritty identity.
Organisers have put on a much tougher test this year, with no less than 13 off road sectors over bog roads, farm tracks, and gravel roads totalling some 27km in all.
At 150km long this years race is sure to test the very best riders around in what promises to be a one day showdown between Irelands top amateurs vs Britain top amateurs.
The Sectors
1 **** Ryehill Estate 1.4km @ 12km 2 **** Moyne Park 2.6km @ 21km 3 **** Cloverpark(ACW) 2.4km @ 34km 4 **** Ryehill Estate 1.4km @ 63km 5 **** Clover Park(CW) 2.4km @ 79km 6 ***** Carrefour 1.5km @ 91km 7 **** Moyne Park 2.6km @ 98km 8 ***** Arenberg 1.4km @ 104km 9 ***** Wind Farm 1.2km @ 112km 10 ***** Carrefour 1.5km @ 119km 11 ***** Stonehall 4.4km @ 129km 12 ** Sanctuary 2.1km @ 145km 13 * Final Fling 1.1km @ 148km
And in another major development by the host club Galway Bay CC, the inaugural running of the first ever womens classics race in Ireland, the Galway Classic Mná, promises to be a very testy affair: 100kms with 9 off-road sectors.
And furthermore, the A3 race will be held on the same course as the womens; 100km with 9 sectors to contend with.
Registration for all the Galway Classic events is available through the host website www.ridetheclassic.com