M Donnelly Junior Tour 2003 |
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Congratulations to Kai Reus from Holland winner 2003
Lots of Pictures posted here now.. Click Stage Links on Left column EVENT NEWS RESULTS AND PICTURES Race Reports: Shane Stokes Reports from the race on www.IrishCycling.com, www.Ireland.com (Irish Times) and www.CyclingNews.com Race Results: Complete results by Seamus Shortall daily on www.shortall.info Pictures: Some pictures by Peter Purfield will be posted on www.IrishCycling.com during the race, there is now a full gallery of pictures posted here on this site.
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Race Review: By Shane Stokes August 2003 With less than two weeks remaining before the start of the M. Donnelly Junior Tour, race organiser Alice Sherratt has released details of what should be a fascinating contest. A strong international field of riders has been confirmed for the tough event, with three squads from France, three from the Netherlands, two from South Africa, one from the USA plus teams from the UK all travelling to Ireland to take part in the six day stage race. The English and Welsh national teams are part of this UK entry, as are five regional teams. ‘There will be a good line-up for the Junior Tour’, said Sherratt, ‘It should be a great race.’
The M. Donnelly Junior Tour will begin in Waterford with a one-mile hilly time trial on Tuesday, August fifth. It continues the following day with an undulating 62 mile stage out around Dungarvan, while on day three the riders will cover 63 miles to Enniscorthy. Stage four will be probably be the hardest leg of the race, with four laps of a very hilly 14 mile circuit at Carrick on Suir likely to splinter the field. The following day the riders will dispute a 66 mile stage which starts and finishes in Clonmel and takes in the climb of the Vee. Then the final day of racing will take the riders on a two-lap, 40 mile road race which concludes on the Quays in Waterford city. ‘There are some great teams coming this year and we have a good route planned. We are all looking forward to what should be a really great race’, she concludes. |
The 2003 contest will
be held in the environs of County Waterford, the M. Donnelly Junior Tour
having made the move last year due to traffic congestion in the Dublin
area. ‘We were very happy with the way things turned out last year’,
said Sherratt. ‘The move worked very well for us. The local support is
great and the assistance of the Waterford Institute of Technology makes
things much easier for us, in terms of food and accommodation. There is
a very good atmosphere and the racing itself is great’.