Enthusiast Rodney follows the Giro route

At least one Lisburn cyclist who turned out to watch the Giro D’Italia masters at Belfast City Hall’s finishing line knew something of what a hard track the professionals had in front of them on day two of the international event.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th May 2014, 18:42 BST
Stephen Coogan , 41, Naomi McLaughlin, 35 and Rodney Martin, 47, from Lisburn on their bikes in honour of the Giro d'Italia. PICTURE AND COPY BY LISE MCGREEVY.Stephen Coogan , 41, Naomi McLaughlin, 35 and Rodney Martin, 47, from Lisburn on their bikes in honour of the Giro d'Italia. PICTURE AND COPY BY LISE MCGREEVY.
Stephen Coogan , 41, Naomi McLaughlin, 35 and Rodney Martin, 47, from Lisburn on their bikes in honour of the Giro d'Italia. PICTURE AND COPY BY LISE MCGREEVY.

It was a route starting at Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and taaking the riders over 200km of Northern Ireland’s roads, through counties Antrim, Londonderry and Down, before finishing back at Belfast City Hall late on the Saturday afternoon.

Supporter Rodney Martin, 47, from Lisburn, looked on having already completed the Chain Reaction Cycles Big Italian Bike Ride Gran Fondo , which took in parts of the Giro route.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

More than 1,000 cyclists took part in honour of the epic race.

Rodney, who competed in the bike-ride alongside his cycling buddies Stephen Coogan, from Belfast, and Naomi McLaughlin, from Derry/Londonderry, said: “It is a very gruelling ride for us all but it was an amazing experienceto cycle in the footsteps of the professionals.

“The Giro coming to Northern Ireland is the chance of a lifetime and I am delighted to be a part of it.”

He added: “Seeing the pros in action and knowing we have cycled parts of the route they have covered is an experience on a whole new level - what a fantastic event.”

The Giro D’Italia is the world’s second largest bike race.

Related topics:LisburnNorthern IrelandAntrim