Causeway Coast Sportive enties open

Cyclists from all over Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain can now enter the Causeway's most popular cycling event, the Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive in association with Chain Reaction Cycles Flagship Store in Belfast.
Giants Causeway Coast Sportive 2015 Dark Hedges Long and Short RoutesGiants Causeway Coast Sportive 2015 Dark Hedges Long and Short Routes
Giants Causeway Coast Sportive 2015 Dark Hedges Long and Short Routes

This leisure event is one of the biggest road cycling events in Northern Ireland and event organisers hope to attract 1,400 participants in 2016 to the Causeway Coast and Glen’s area.

The event’s start and finish line is in Ballycastle which will become a hive of activity on Saturday 10th September as the participants get ready to tackle their chosen route.

Outdoor Recreation NI, run this event in order to showcase the area to visitors and to drive cycle tourism in Northern Ireland. Last year’s event injected an impressive economic benefit of £182k into the local economy.

The event provides participants with an opportunity to cycle along one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Europe and part of the 2014 Giro d’Italia route but has also been created with every level of cyclist in mind.

The shortest route which is 35 miles is an excellent way for beginners to complete their first sportive whereas the two longer routes of 80 miles and 115 miles are ideal for the more serious cyclists with testing hills of up to 20% gradients.

The shortest route, takes in Bushmills Distillery, Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, the Dark Hedges and the Giant’s Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most popular 80 mile route brings participants through the mythical Glens of Antrim before following the spectacular Antrim Coast Road with the option of taking on or bypassing the gruelling Torr Head Road. The longest route at 115miles in length incorporates both of these shorter distances and provides the ultimate cycling challenge which is widely regarded as one of the toughest sportive routes in Ireland.

Organisers have teamed up with Marie Curie Cancer Care and Action Medical Research to encourage participants to fundraise as an extra motivator when tackling the tough hills on the day.

Entries are now open on the event website (www.giantscausewaycoastsportive.com) and if you enter the event between now and the end of March 2016 you can avail of a £15 off voucher with Chain Reaction Cycles Flagship Store in Belfast.

The event which starts and finishes in Ballycastle costs £35 to enter. For more information contact Beverley Pierson on (0)28 9030 9338 or email [email protected]