Audax Ireland is pleased to announce the launch of the Míle Fáilte 1200. This is a 1,200 kilometre randonneé commencing June 21st 2014, over four days in the South of Ireland.
It will operate from two manned overnight hubs and otherwise use commercial/info controls.
Section One begins on Saturday at 6.00 am from the first hub in Midleton, Cork and loops back to it that night travelling through about 360 kilometres, mostly inland.
Section Two follows the coastline of south Cork westward to finish overnight after 350 Km in the second hub; a Killarney hostel.
Section Three takes riders 350 km further through the Ring of Kerry and Dingle peninsula back to their Killarney base.
Section Four returns cyclists the 140 km between hubs to Midleton and the finish. All together it covers much of the breathtaking scenery of the Cork/Kerry coastline as well as the rolling plains of the Golden Vale and Copper Coast.
The four days rack up almost 14 km of vertical climb (outstripping PBP with 9.4 and the longer LEL with its 11.5). It is roughly on par with the Mille Alba and Mille Cymru. MF1200 reaches a high of 400 metres but rarely goes over 250 and the climbs are memorable more for their number and scenery than for their gentle gradient.
Hub controls will provide overnight accommodation and a cooked breakfast. Through the days the course meanders through the quiet lanes of South Leinster and along established tourist trails of Munster taking in the most picturesque countryside between the small towns and villages of rural Ireland. As well as the standard route sheet and GPS files, riders will be provided with a list of hotels and cafes en route that provide convenient stops.
Entries to the MF1200 are limited to 80 and those interested are invited to register their interest by emailing their name and address to millefailte1200@gmail.com. There is no charge at this point. A detailed e-brochure is also available. Once the event website is populated and entry fees are established, it will open officially. This is expected to be after December when preference will be given to those already registered. Final payment will requested at this point and a Confirmed Rider List will be compiled and published.
We expect the entry fee to be less than €150 to include hostel accommodation on each night with a cooked breakfast. Hotel rooms (again with breakfast) will be optional at a supplementary cost thought to be in the region of €150. There will be route sheets, GPS files, bag drop between hubs and a commemorative medal for all, not to mention the legendary Irish welcome – Céad Míle Fáilte!
Should be a good one looking forward to doing it
What about having a embroided patch for the finishers? Something the participants can put on their jackets, jerseys or panniers etc. to show that they have completed the race. The Super Brevet Scandinavia (SBS) has one, so does Swedens oldest bicycle race Mälaren runt (1912 Olympic Cycling track 333 km). A patch with your logo doesn’t cost much to manufacture and can be sold to participants in the package as an volentary item.