The ever popular Noel Teggart Memorial will return for 2023 on Sunday 18th June, and once again we are delighted to confirm PSNI approval of a one-way road closure on multiple parts of the route to minimise oncoming traffic for the riders and cavalcade.
Following overwhelmingly positive feedback in 2022 when we debuted a new testing circuit to replace the long standing Banbridge / Gilford / Scarva loop. The circuit winds in the shadows of the Mourne Mountains on the outskirts of Banbridge and Rathfriland. With a healthy mix of challenging rises in the road and fast flowing smooth paved tarmac the 30km circuit should once again encourage some great racing.
In a change to the format of the day’s event, we have reduced the number of bunches on the circuit from previous years, limiting it to 3 races. Race 1 will cater for A1-A2 riders, completing 4 laps for a total race distance of 124km. Race 2 will cater for A3 riders, covering 3 laps for a race distance of 93km. Finally, race 3 will cater for A4 riders and cover 2 laps, totalling 62km.
As per other Banbridge CC events, we will be permitting women to ‘ride down’ a category, so A2 women can ride in the A3 race and A3 women can ride in the A4 race. This has also proven to be popular in the past and has offered women competitive larger bunch racing ahead of key season targets such as the National Road Championship which take place later in the month. Women’s prizes will be offered in both races.
Unfortunately the change to the format will see the removal of the youth races from the event. As many will have noted, Banbridge CC had hoped to host youth racing as part of the Banbridge Crit to backfill this change. However, the cancellation of that event will now mean the club, for the first time in many years, will not host racing as part of their 2023 programme of events.
It’s a development that is hugely regrettable for a club who have consistently promoted successful youth races annually and the race committee have committed to review the programme for 2024 to avoid any further omission of youth races from the Banbridge CC annual event programme.
All races will commence at 12 noon.
Race entry is now open via the Cycling Ireland EventMaster portal, here, and will close at 10pm on Thursday 15th June.
Matthew Teggart proved to be a hugely popular winner in 2022. Above photo and cover photo courtesy of Toby Watson
