160km Royal Challenge
160km Royal Challenge
This is the new and exciting 160km route. Cyclists start in Trim heading out the Dublin road R154 for 2km until Jack Quinn’s Pub is in sight, cyclists will take a left turn opposite the pub. Heading straight through the cross roads at Crocketts pub and onto Bellinter cross taking a right turn towards Tara. This is the first real challenge for cyclists as they have to attack the steep incline up to the Hill of Tara.
From Tara cyclists travel to Skryne where they take in some breath taking views and pass by the famous O’Connell’s pub (famed for the Christmas Guinness advertisement). Cyclists move through Edoxtown and Rathfeigh before they cross the N2. Cyclists now get the chance to open up and get a good 5km spin into Duleek. From Duleek cyclists hit Corbalis - cut off point at approx 40km.
Cyclists turn right to Red mountain and then on to Donore. Cyclists come to their first water stop at the Battle of the Boyne. From here the cyclists take in the historic Newgrange and get an up close look at a designated world heritage site. After the glorious site of the Ancient Tomb cyclists push on to Monknewtown and arrive in Grangegeeth at 73km and the steep inclines of Slieve Breagh(known locally as Downeys mountain). After the tough inclines cyclists get to open up for 8km on flat road which brings them past Lobinstown and into Drumconrath. Drumconrath at 89km gives cyclists the chance to refuel at the food stop.
After refreshments cyclists move off towards Mullaghmore and tip the border of north Meath and Cavan at Barleyhill. Cyclists travel south now through Killycroft and Crocknacross. Cyclists are heading to Nobber, when they reach Nobber they cycle through the village and take a right turn (below the graveyard) along the L3402 moving towards Staholmog. Cyclists enter Carlanstown and turn left for an open road of 5km to Oristown.
Cyclists rejoin the 100km cyclists in Donaghpatrick and from here join the R147 (Navan/Kells road). There is a nice flat spin for 4km until they reach Newgate where they turn right and travel to Bohermeen - water stop in Bohermeen at 145km. From Bohermeen cyclists travel to Rathmore and head for home with a fast spin for 6km into Trim.
