City gears up for cycling race with car ban on streets

CARS will be forced off the streets of Cork for the first stage of a new international cycling race next week.

Organisers of the Tour of Ireland have asked hundreds of northside residents living along the last few miles of next Wednesday’s opening stage not to park on the streets.

Major traffic restrictions will also be in place across the city from midnight on Tuesday, with more in place from mid-afternoon.

Up to 112 professional riders from 16 European and US teams will take part.

The race starts in Kilkenny before arriving in Cork at around 4pm. Riders will race from Midleton along Horgan’s Quay for two circuits of the city — including two lung-busting ascents of St Patrick’s Hill.

The race will then travel down St Patrick’s Street for a sprint finish before a grandstand on the South Mall.

Race spokesman Alan Rushton said hundreds of leaflets have been dropped into homes and businesses along the route advising people of the parking restrictions.

* www.tourofireland.ie