- Inaugural Galway Classic Mná will take place on May 15th
In a big step for womens road racing in Ireland Galway Bay CC will run the inaugural Galway Classic Mna in Athenry on May 15th. A tough 100km parcours with no less than 10 off-road sectors awaits for what is likely to be a true classics race!
Following the success of the men's Galway Classic which began in 2019, women racing in Ireland will now have their own one-day 'classics' style race, adding a major event to the womens calendar.
The race will start and finish in Athenry, Co Galway, and follows a similar route to that already established in the Galway Classic, taking in 10 sectors covering almost 20km of rough bog roads, manor estate gravel roads, and farm tracks.
One of the gritty bog sectors which will be used in the Galway Classic Mná
It will be survival of the fittest as participants will face ten tough off-road sectors over 100kms with the first coming after only 14kms. Five 5***** sectors in quick succession will surely break the race up before the run for home. Two relatively simple sectors near the finish offer up the last chance to put down some hurt before the finish itself in Athenry.
The Galway Classic Mná Sectors:
1 **** Ryehill Estate 1.4km @ 15km 2 **** Cloverpark 2.4km @ 26km 3 ***** Carrefour 1.5km @ 33km 4 **** Moyne Park 2.6km @ 38km 5 ***** Arenberg 1.4km @ 43km 6 ***** Wind Farm 1.2km @ 52km 7 ***** Carrefour 1.5km @ 63km
8 ***** Stonehall 4.4km @ 79km 9 ** Sanctuary 2.1km @ 94km 10 * Final Fling 1.1km @ 98km
Galway Classic Mná Route
Race Organiser Cathal Dillane explains the decision behind setting up the event:
" We're following a general trend in establishing a women's only classics race and as such we're happy to do our bit to help push women's road racing forward. We carried out a poll last last year amongst female racers and the response was 100% in support of having this event! "
" With anything new there is a certain leap of faith, but we're hopeful that women racing here in Ireland and indeed abroad will get behind it and support the race which takes place on May 15th this year. We have also approached the provinces and invited them to send representative teams to the event. It promises to be a cracker! "
" I would urge ALL women racers to come and compete, regardless of your level - be part of something new! "
Registration for the Galway Classic Mná is available through the host website www.ridetheclassic.com/galway-classic-mna
