The John Beggs Memorial is back for 2021, once again hosting a round of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series. Taking place on Saturday 14th August, the event will use the same 30 km circuit in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains which has been used since 2017, and proved to be hugely popular with riders and spectators alike. In addition to the Elite Men’s National Road Series race, we’re delighted to see the return of the Women’s National Road Series, incorporating Elite and Junior Women, and a new addition for this year, the Junior Men’s National Road Series, incorporating the Sean McGreevy Memorial.
With all National Road Series categories being hosted on a single day, the event is sure to attract the best of Ireland’s cyclists to Co Down.
Gareth O’Neill, Team Caldwell Cycles, will return to Dromore as the current leader of the 2021 Elite Men’s National Road Series
The circuit takes the riders out of Dromore town, winding and rolling through the villages of Kinallen and Dromara with the Mourne Mountains as a backdrop, making their way toward Hillsborough before they turn back once again in the direction of Dromore. With the climbs of Ballykeel Hill, Kinallen and Ballykeel scattered around the circuit, mass bunch finishes are an unlikely outcome for most races. All races will exit the circuit for the final run into Dromore town before the final climb to the finish line atop Mount St.
A total of 4 races will be hosted on the day; The Elite Men’s race, Elite & Junior Women’s race and the Junior Men will all be part of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series. They will be supported by a separate race to accommodate A3 category riders.
The A1/A2 men will complete 4 laps to give them approx. 128km of racing, while the Junior men will cover 3 laps for total race distance of 98km. The Elite & Junior Women’s and the A3 races will both complete 2 laps, giving them 68km.
Two time winner of the ‘The Beggs’, multiple National, World and Paralympic Champion, Eve McCrystal, is Tokyo bound and will make way for a new winner in the 2021 edition of the Women’s race.
All races will be pre-entry and will open for registration on Tuesday 3rd August at 8pm, closing Wednesday 8th at 8pm, on the Cycling Ireland EventMaster website. Please note this is a strictly pre-entry only event.
All races will start from 12 noon and will roll out from the Event HQ at Dromore High School
Further detail of the event, including the Race Information Manual, will be made available via the Banbridge CC social media on both Facebook and Twitter in the coming days in the run up to the event itself.
#TheBeggs21
