Date: Saturday 15th February 2025

Please note that Winter events may be cancelled or postponed at short notice due to adverse weather conditions. In general, the Audax Ireland Committee has agreed that if a MET Eireann Weather Warning is issued for snow/ice or high winds, we will probably not proceed with an event. Warnings relating to heavy rain will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Difficulty/Climbing (from * to *****): ***

Organiser: Mike Law

E-mail: corkaudax@gmail.com

Entry Limit: 40 riders

Entry Fee €5.  Cycling Ireland Licence required.  1-day Licence is available for €10, this will be charged automatically on Eventmaster if you do not have a valid Annual Cycling Ireland Licence.

Entry is on Eventmaster: https://eventmaster.ie/event/W4qnI65i0j

Closing date: Tuesday 11th February 2025

Start: SuperValu Car Park, Park Street, Off Mill Road, Midleton, Co. Cork

Start Time: 08:00

Facilities: Car parking at the start

Route Map: Gimme Shelter 200-2025

The “Gimme Shelter” is based out of Midleton, Co. Cork. Riders head South from Midleton by a series of back-roads through East Ferry  to the townland of Inch in East Cork, before swinging around to the North East and starting on a 90 km trek along the Cork and Waterford coasts. While the road offers stunning views along the coastline, it doesn’t offer much in the line of hiding places from strong sea breezes and Easterly winds, hence the event name. On reaching the Waterford Gaeltacht village on An Rinn (Ring), the course curls around to the Northwest, trading sea views for the green fields of the Blackwater Valley. After passing though the iconic Dromara Gate, riders will  reach Cappoquin and Lismore and then onwards to the final control of the day in the village of Rathcormac. The final section takes an undulating back road over the highest point of the day (which, at 150m, is little more than half the height of the largest climb on the Midleton 200)  before arriving back to Midleton and the finish.

Road surfaces are generally good but entrants should be aware that much of the route is on country lanes in agricultural areas and road conditions have deteriorated in sections, with potholes or mud / gravel. The course is rideable on 23mm tyres in good conditions but given the current road conditions  , 25s or 28s would be more appropriate. The route features less climbing and lower elevations than the previous  Midleton 200 but entrants should be aware that the undulating nature of the coastal section, combined with the high chance of headwinds, means that this is not an easy day in the saddle.
Route navigation can best be described as “busy” in sections. Entrants will be emailed GPS files and route sheets in the run-up to the event.

This event is also available as a Permanent for €5 fee.
Please note that a Cycling Ireland Annual licence is required to take part in a Permanent. Day licences will not be available for Permanents. The fee should be paid to paypal@audaxireland.org

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