Kelly steps up a gear to promote peddle power

WORLD-FAMOUS cyclist Seán Kelly is inviting fellow enthusiasts to test their pedal power and join in a scenic cycle tour through Co Waterford in August — over the same terrain where he mastered his craft.

The Seán Kelly cycling tour of Waterford was officially launched yesterday by the cyclist himself at Mahon Falls in the Comeragh Mountains. The tour will be held on Sunday, August 24, and consists of three different routes to test the mettle of cyclists of various abilities and endurance levels.

Organisers of the Seán Kelly tour of Waterford have set themselves a target of getting upwards of 1,500 leisure cyclists into the saddle on the day and the tour is on its way towards becoming the biggest cycling event in the country.

The shortest route, the 50km “Kelly Cruise”, is a gentle tester for those who spend a good bit of time in the saddle; the 100km “Kelly Legacy” is a more testing route, which Kelly has made famous and is effectively a circuit of the Comeragh Mountains; the 160km Kelly Comeragh Challenge is “only for the very experienced and the very fit”, according to organisers.

Commenting on this year’s tour Kelly said: “It is fantastic to be involved in an event that is so successful. There is huge demand for tours like this — last year we had 1,000 participants, which we certainly didn’t imagine happening. This year we are aiming for bigger and better.”

The former world No 1 said it was “heartening” to see vast amounts of people out training for the tour last summer, “in particular with obesity levels and health issues on the up”.

This is the second year of the tour, which helps raise finance for the National Council for the Blind and was the brainchild of Waterford County Council, Waterford Sports Partnership, eight local cycling clubs, and Waterford Community Forum who wanted to pay tribute to the name of Seán Kelly in a manner befitting his legendary cycling status.

Waterford Sports Partnership sports co-ordinator Rosarie Kealy said they were “delighted” with last year’s event, “and look forward to seeing many more people, young and old, getting active and getting out on their bikes training for and participating in the 2008 event. There’s a route to suit everyone.”

County manager Ray O’Dwyer described last year’s tour as “an unqualified success in many ways” and predicted more from this year’s version. “We expect 1,500 participants, making this one of the biggest events of its type in Ireland. The local cycling clubs and local communities across the Déise have come together with Waterford County Council and Waterford Sports Partnership to plan a unique event to celebrate Seán Kelly’s achievements and to showcase our county and its wonderful scenery. We hope to get more people — young and old — active, to bring more cyclists to our county and to put Waterford on the map as the country’s prime cycling destination”.

* www.theseankellytour.com