Two ‘Team Sky’ cyclists, who will compete in next month’s Tour De France have been confirmed as participants in Ireland’s first closed road cycling event taking place in County Clare on August 22nd.Professional Italian riders Dario Cioni and Davide Vigano will join an estimated 2000 cyclists from throughout Ireland and abroad in the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia, which will be held over an 82-mile course on closed roads. The mass participation event is being marketed nationally and internationally and is open to all standards of cyclists aged 18-80.
English-born Dario Cioni, aged 35, recently finished fourth in the Tour Of Slovenia while 25-year old had five top ten finishes during the 2009 Giro d'Italia.
Jo Dytch of IMG said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm such high profile names from the world of cycling for the inaugural Sky Ride Etape Hibernia In August. Their participation confirms the growing popularity of road cycling in Ireland and we hope that it will encourage even greater numbers to take part in this unique mass participation event for County Clare and Ireland.”
Ms. Dytch said the event presented an ideal opportunity for regular cyclists to ride alongside some of the world’s best.
Ms. Dytch added: “The event affords cyclists with the unique opportunity to cycle safely on closed roads, whilst rising to the physical challenge at the same time. We expect to draw enthusiasts, the health conscious, challenge-seekers, charity fund-raisers and lapsed cyclists. For the inaugural Etape Hibernia, we hope to attract as many as 2000 entrants and plan to grow this number considerably by 2014.”
The 82-mile cycle will commence and finish in Ennis, as well as travel through Ruan, Corofin, Kilnaboy, Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Lahinch, Spanish Point, Connolly and Kilmaley.
Sky, the UK and Ireland’s leading entertainment company behind the Sky Ride series of events, is the title sponsor of The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia.
The event is being organised by IMG, in partnership with Sky, Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau and Clare County Council.
For further information visit www.etapehibernia.com.
