Tour of Ireland Cyclists prepare for Limerick-Dingle Stage

Tour of Ireland cyclists prepare for for Limerick-Dingle Stage
The 2008 Tour of Ireland cycle race, which takes place from August 27th to 31st August, is set to zoom through Kerry as the fourth and fifth stages of the 900km five stage race will see 112 of the world's top cyclists hurtle through the county at breakneck speed. Beginning in Dublin on Wednesday August 27th, 16 top international cycling teams, including Tour De France Stage Winner Mark Cavendish, will tackle the first three stages of the race from Dublin to Waterford, Thurles to Loughrea and Ballinrobe to Galway City. The fourth stage, which commences on Saturday August 30th, will see the peloton create a colourful spectacle as competitors race from Clancy's Stand in Limerick City to Patrickswell, Adare, Rathkeale, Newcastlewest, Ardagh, Carrigkerry and across the county bounds into Athea at approximately midday.The action will continue on into Listowel (12.20), Finuge (12.28), Lixnaw, (12.35) Abbeydorney (12.45) and on into Tralee (12.54).The cyclists will then complete the difficult route from Tralee to Stradbally, over the 8km Category One climb over Connor Pass and on into Dingle (13.52).
The race continues from there on through West Kerry where the cyclists will face the mountainous terrains of the Gaeltacht tackling a 36km loop of Slea Head towards Dún Chaoin and back over the 185 metre climb over Mám Clasach. Events will then reach a thrilling climax as competitors head for a dramatic finish on
Dingle's Main Street at approximately 14.36. The final stage, Stage Five, will begin the following morning in Killarney on High Streed at 11:30am where cyclists will face the final stage on towards Glenflesk, Crohane across the county bounds into Baile Bhúirne and on towards the finish line in McCurtin Street in Cork City at approximately 3pm. RTE will feature nightly coverage of the Tour of Ireland which is being broadcast to millions of spectators across the world with ITV covering the event for the UK. TV networks in France, Scandinavia the USA and Asia will also carry the event and highlights of the race are set to be shown in South Africa and Asia.
More information on the Tour of Ireland is available at www.tourofireland.ie .