Five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault and rugby legend Keith Wood are among the international sports stars lining up for the 2013 Škoda Tour de Conamara (www.tourdeconamara.com).
The cycling sportive event on Saturday 25th May is part of a weekend of cycling activity that will see the Connemara area host Ireland’s first sportive team time trial in Carna.
Speaking at the launch of the event Raymond Leddy, Head of Marketing, Škoda Ireland said: “Škoda is delighted to become the official sponsor to the Tour de Conamara. Škoda has a rich tradition in cycling and are the official partner of the Tour de France. To be able to get behind a local event such as this was an easy decision to make and we wish all the participants well. Monaghan & Sons, our local Škoda dealership in Galway will be offering participants the option to get pre tour VIP treatment with further details to be announced closer to the event.”
“The event has already attracted considerable international interest with registrations already received from cyclists in the UK, France and the USA” according to event organiser Padraic Quinn. He explained “we are hoping to build on the success of last year’s cycle and have made a number of changes to provide a weekend of activity for visitors to the area. The Saturday cycle in Clifden offers 140km and 80km routes. The option to take part in the Sunday team trial event in Carna is something that is already attracting a lot of attention from cycling clubs and corporate teams”.
The weekend is rounded off with a Family Funathlon in Carna that will include cycling, walking and family entertainment. The Newstalk Team Time Trial event and Family Funathlon are fundraiser events for Cancer Care West.
Speaking about the return of Bernard Hinault to Connemara, Padraic Quinn revealed the French cycling legend expressed an immediate interest in returning in the aftermath of the 2012 event. Quinn noted “Bernard was very taken with the event atmosphere, scenery and the reaction of Irish cyclists to him. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Tour de France so it is a real honour to have one of the sports true legends join us in Connemara for the event”
Hinualt is also an ambassador of the Tour de France. Nicknamed Le Blaireau (the Badger), he is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours and the only cyclist to have won each more than once. He won the Tour de France in ’78, ’79, ’81, ’82 and ’85. He came second in ’84 and ‘86 and won 28 stages, of which 13 were individual time trials.
The event is sponsored by Škoda, Newstalk, PowerBar, AliMaySports.ie, Velotec, Galway Water, TG4 and W2 Consulting. Participants who register for the 140km or 80km Sportive by April 14th are guaranteed a special edition cycling gilet and PowerBar pack. Event information and registration is available on www.tourdeconamara.com
