Sport Ireland Rebel Tour of Cork

The Sport Ireland Rebel Tour takes place on Saturday, September 9th, 2017 in Glengarriff.

As part of the overall event, there are three different routes of varying degrees of difficulty.

Details of the Family Fun Cycle will be available soon.

The 85km Rebel Rider provides cyclists with a number of challenging climbs and is best suited to the experienced but lapsed cyclist or the eager to test and challenge themselves cyclist.

The route departs Glengarriff along the N71, climbing the Caha Pass through a series of beautiful hand hewn rock tunnels across the border into the Kingdom of Kerry.

Following an easy descent down to Kenmare, riders take a left turn onto the R571 in the direction of the Beara Peninsula along the shoreline of the Kenmare Bay, before turning right at Tousist for a welcome food/refreshments stop.

Enclosed by mountains and sea, Tuosist has some of the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in Ireland, with views out to the Atlantic Ocean and across Kenmare Bay to the Ring of Kerry and the majestic range of the Magillicuddy Reeks.

Departing Tousist and following the coast road through Kilmakilloge and onto Lauragh where riders are guided onto the R574 to begin their climb of the famous Healy Pass. Once out of the valley, riders are treated to some of the most spectacular views of the Beara Peninsula, which distracts from ill-feelings towards the previous climb.

On passing back over the border at the summit of the Healy Pass, riders descend back into the Rebel County of Cork and are treated to a 4 km descent of sharp hairpin bends with wonderful little stone walls and bridges hidden beneath.

At the base of the Healy Pass, riders turn left onto the R572 back towards Glengarriff to recover and celebrate with your fellow cyclists. 

The 160km Rebel Challenge is regarded as one of the "Most Challenging Sportives" on the Irish cycling calendar and will challenge the most hardened of Rebel Warriors!

The route starts out from Glengarriff with a climb over the Caha Pass, through a series of beautiful hand hewn rock tunnels across the border into the Kingdom of Kerry.

Following an easy descent to Kenmare, riders turn left onto the R571 in the direction of the Beara Peninsula along the shoreline of the Kenmare Bay. Riders continue into Lauragh before climbing the Healy Pass for the first time, crossing back over into the Rebel County of Cork. The descent from the Healy Pass requires care and attention with many sharp and hairpin corners to negotiate. A welcome food/refreshment stop awaits riders at the bottom of the first Healy pass descent.

The route continues on the R572 through the fishing port of Castletownbere and on to the village of Allihies, before climbing the significant rocky mountain pass between Allihies and Urhan known locally as “Reentrisk” or translated meaning “The Cods Head”.

The second foodstop on this challenging route is laid out in Eyeries, where riders prepare for the final leg of their journey back to HQ in Glengarriff. Continuing along the R571 through the village of Ardgroom and rolling into Lauragh, riders are guided to take a right turn onto the R574 to climb the Healy Pass for the second time, armed with the full knowledge of what lays ahead. The Healy Pass descent again needs care and attention before turning left at the bottom and back onto the R572 rolling back into Glengarriff.

For further information and any queries relating to the Sport Ireland Rebel Tour of Cork 2017 please contact:
www.corkrebeltour.ie
Phone: 021 2061762
Email: info@corksports.ie