The 2014 Skoda Tour de Conamara is close to capacity with record numbers of participants expected to take part in this year’s event. Visitors are expected to arrive from all corners of Ireland as well as abroad for the popular cycling sportive.
Pictured at the launch of the 2014 Skoda Tour de Conamara were Leo Monaghan, dealer principal of Monaghan & Sons, Galway, Joe Monaghan, Raymond Leddy, Head of Marketing & Product, Skoda Ireland and Mark O’Connell, representing event partners W2.
The event takes place on Saturday May 24 and is part of a weekend of cycling activity. This year, cyclists dressed in vintage cycling gear from the 1970s and 1980s will lead out the event, the first of its kind in Ireland.
Skoda’s Galway dealership, Monaghan & Sons will host a pre Tour event on Friday, May 23 in the dealership on the Tuam Road. As part of this event, participants will be able to register in the showroom from 5pm on Friday and will also be able to enjoy a ‘pasta party’ in the showroom where pasta will be served to ensure the riders are well fed for the following day’s cycle.
Local DJ, Killian MacDonald will be kicking things off in the dealership from 5pm with a Cycling Ireland representative present on the evening who will host a seminar on nutrition, training and cycling in general. Participants are encouraged to bring their bikes to the event for some fine tuning as local bike mechanics will also be present.
Speaking ahead of the event Leo Monaghan, dealer principal, Monaghan & Sons, Galway said: “We are delighted to be involved with the Tour de Conamara again this year. After the success of last year’s pre tour event, we will host a similar event in the dealership on Friday, 23rd. We will be offering participants to chance to register for the event on the Friday evening from 5pm and also the opportunity to get pre tour VIP treatment.”
He added “140 kilometres is a huge distance and we will host a ‘pasta party’ for participants to stock up on carbs ahead of the challenge. We will also have a representative from Cycling Ireland giving a workshop and we’d also encourage participants to bring their bikes to the showroom in order to get it checked out by local bike mechanics.”
Padraic Quinn, event organiser also commented saying: “We are very happy with the level of interest in the Tour de Conamara this year; it is a record number of entries which proves the increasing popularity of the event. We are also thrilled that Monaghans have decided to host the pre tour event which will be convenient for participants travelling to Galway on the Friday.”
