Orwell Wheelers are once more gearing up for the promotion of Ireland's top annual criterium, the Stephen Roche Grand Prix on Wednesday 25th June at Meadowmount, Ballinteer, Co Dublin, and this year the great man himself will be on hand to help out.

Established as one of the 'must do' events on the Leinster racing calendar, the Roche Grand Prix traditionally boasts a who's who of Irish road racing talent with the top short circuit racers in the country doing battle for one of local racing's most prestigious trophies.

The challenging, spectator friendly circuit invariably produces great racing action for the crowd lining the circuit and congregated in the central green area.The 1.3km circuit is located in the housing estate where no less than three of the Roche family took their first tentative pedal strokes on the road to Tour de France glory.

This year's event, once again includes a full programme of races for youth riders starting at 19.00 with riders in the senior race for A1/A2/A3 riders due to be flagged off at 19.45. We're going all out this year to make the novice races the biggest and best yet!

Note: Time constraints on the closed road circuit mean that the organisers can only promote one senior race and for safety we have to limit the number of competitors, so the club regrets A4 riders are again, unfortunately, excluded from participation. There will also be no one-day licences issued on the night.

Parking and changing facilities are at Balinteer Community School (http://goo.gl/maps/QTnyb). Sign on for all races runs from 18.15 to 19.15 Sign-on for seniors is at the school, for all others it's on the circuit itself.

All car parking is at Ballinteer Community School, at the request of the Gardaí and County Council. There is a 500m route from the back of the school to the course: http://goo.gl/maps/j4clf

Update

The eponymous Stephen Roche will be on hand this year to give a hand with proceedings.

Does he need an introduction? The Triple Crown of Giro, Tour and World Champs in 1987 is only matched by the Cannibcal Eddy Merckx! And the rest of his palmarès boasts victories at Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie, Critérium International, and of course, the toughest race of all time, the Rás!

Prize list:
As well as prizes for the overall and top two in each of A2 and A3, we'll have the usual generous set of primes - six this year, to keep the pace high and the racing exciting!

  • 1st 8 overall
  • 1st 2 unplaced A2s
  • 1st 2 unplaced A3s
  • 6 primes on laps 3, 6, 10, 15, 20 and 25

 

Directions to the Stephen Roche GP:

Coming from the M50 Northbound take Exit 13, Signed "Sandyford/ Dundrum";
Take the 2nd exit at the first roundabout, signed "Dundrum";
After approximately 1km you'll hit the next roundabout, take the 2nd exit, signed "Dundrum";
Pass under the motorway, and take the 1st exit at the next roundabout, signed "Rathfarnham";
Straight on for approximately 1.5km, then turn right directly before the Lidl supermarket, signed "Nutgrove";
After 800 metres you come to a mini roundabout;
For Senior riders turn right here, car parking and sign on is in Ballinteer Community School on the left hand side;
For Youth riders go straight on at the mini roundabout;
Take the 3rd exit at the next roundabout onto Barton Road East;
Take the first turn right and sign on is on the green directly in front of you.

Coming from the M50 Southbound take Exit 13, Signed "Sandyford/ Dundrum";
At the roundabout exiting the motorway take the 1st exit , signed "Rathfarnham";
Straight on for approximately 1.5km, then turn right directly before the Lidl supermarket, signed "Nutgrove";
After 800 metres you come to a mini roundabout;
For Senior riders turn right here, car parking and sign on is in Ballinteer Community School on the left hand side;
For Youth riders go straight on at the mini roundabout;
Take the 3rd exit at the next roundabout onto Barton Road East;
Take the first turn right and sign on is on the green directly in front of you.

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Yo2oW

 


The bunch in last year's edition (photo thanks to Colm Tobin)