John Treacy, Chief Executive Irish Sports Council signs up for 2011 Rebel Tour

John Treacy, Chief Executive, Irish Sports Council and former Olympic Marathon Silver Medalist has signed up for the 50k route in this year's An Post Rebel Tour on September 10th. John, who still regularly runs, has taken up cycling as he views it as not only being a healthy and enjoyable leisure pursuit but also an excellent way of keeping fit. The Rebel Tour will be the fourth occasion John has participated in this year's An Post/ISC Cycle Series. He has already completed the 10k routes in both the Tour of Sligo and the Tour De Burren and made his debut over the 50k route in last week's Sean Kelly Tour in his native county of Waterford.

The An Post Rebel Tour, which is now in its third year, is part of the An Post Cycle Series, promoted by An Post and the Irish Sports Council to encourage communities around the country to get on their bikes. It is the fifth and final event of the Cycle Series, which has similar events in Meath, Clare, Sligo and Waterford. Over 1,500 people participated in the Cork event last year and bigger numbers are expected again this year.

This one day cycling event affords people of Cork and visitors to the county the chance to enjoy stunning scenery ranging from majestic mountains to picturesque county scenery and rural villages from the saddle of a bike. The event will involve four different routes to accommodate all levels of cyclists and promises to be a great way for families to spend a day of fun together, while the more serious rider can enjoy a more challenging route. Parking will be available for participants on the day in CIT and there will be food vendors and entertainment at the finish line.

The exhilarating 150km Rebel Challenge which will take participants on a scenic tour of West Cork, beginning from Cork Institute of Technology in Bishopstown, out to the Bandon road roundabout and veering off toward West Cork, bypassing the town of Bandon and continuing out as far as Dunmanway before turning left for Clonakility and along the coast of Garretstown and the Old Head of Kinsale before heading back to the finish point in CIT.

The aptly named 80km Rebel Rider is the second of our offerings which will similarly see the route begin from CIT and head toward West Cork along the N71 to Inishannon where the route will turn left toward Ballinadee and onto Ballinaspittle. The route will then loop around the Old Head of Kinsale before returning back to CIT.

The 50km Rebel Cruiser is new to the 2011 event and will again commence in CIT and head west to Inishannon, where participants will turn off towards Kinsale and make their way back through Belgooly and Riverstick to the finish point in CIT.

The final event see's the Cork Sports Partnership link up with the Cork Environmental Forum to offer families a fun and leisurely cycle known as "The Rebel Pedal". This 10km cycle will allow cyclists of all ages to complete a circuit of Cork city starting from the Grand Parade and making their way out to the finish point in CIT.

At the launch of the An Post Cycle Series, John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council was keen to stress the importance of cycling as a means of exercise, "The whole purpose of the An Post series is to get people active. Nationwide, over 12,000 people will participate in the entire An Post Cycle Series so they are a great way of encouraging people to train and they give everyone an opportunity to work to their own ability. Whether you choose the 10k or the 160k, you can challenge yourself and enjoy the beautiful sights of Cork. What could be better?"

Registration is currently open at www.corkrebeltour.ie where participants can opt to either register online or download the registration form and post it back to the Cork Sports Partnership Ltd, Yeats House, Barrack Square, Ballincollig, Cork. Please note that the closing date for the entries will be Wednesday September 7th.

The An Post Rebel Tour is organised by the Cork Local Sports Partnership and local partners, and volunteers who can offer their time on the day to help the event to run successfully are warmly welcomed. For further information on the event please see www.corkrebeltour.ie or contact The Cork Sports Partnership on 021- 4665081.

Cork LSP are delighted to join forces with An Post, Irish Sports Council, Cycling Ireland, the Cork Environmental Forum, Cork Institute of Technology and the Evening Echo in bringing the An Post Rebel Tour to Cork.