Marble City Cyclers 200km Audax
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 1:28PM 
The third Marble City 200 Audax cycle will be held on Saturday 2nd April 2011, leaving the IWA Building on College Road, Kilkenny at 8am (see directions below). We are asking all participants to be available for registration by 7.50am. Entrance fee is €10, with a €5 deduction for anyone who presents their valid 2011 Cycling Ireland licence on the day. There is also an option of tea/coffee and sandwiches at the second control stop for - this option is an additional €6 charge.
Please Note: As with most Audax events, the participants need to be self-sufficient and be confident of doing this sort of distance as support on the day will be minimal.
The route this year will be the same as last year, mainly all in Kilkenny but parts of the route will also delve into the counties of Carlow and Wexford and a significant part will also go through Tipperary county.
Review of Last Years Event
Click here for Audax Irelands review of last years event.
Brief route description
After leaving Kilkenny, the first town that the route will take you through is Bagnelstown and from there we will proceed to Borris. It’s then a scenic route from Borris to New Ross (please feel free to interpret the word “scenic” for “draggy”!). The end of this road runs along side the River Barrow for a few miles before New Ross. When we come to the N.30 junction, we will be taking a right – as this is a busy road and we are taking a right, extra care is needed. We won’t be staying on the N.30 for very long as we will be taking the first right off it, to cross over the ‘Ferrybank Bridge’. We will be having our first control point shortly after this point.
From the first control point, we will proceed to the picturesque town of Inistiogue and then to Thomastown. From Thomastown, we take the road to Waterford until we come to a ‘T junction’, whereby cyclists will take a right to Knocktopher. From Knocktopher we will proceed to Kilmaganny and then to the home of the brilliant Seán Kelly, Carrick on Suir. Please be careful coming into Carrick as there is a railway track to negotiate as you approach the town. The second control point is at Carraig Hotel in Carrick-on-Suir; for additional (and optional) charge of €6 as sign-on, you can enjoy the sandwiches provided at the hotel.
Group shot taken in glorious sunshine outside "Ikes and Mikes" near Carrick on Suir after fueling up during last years event.
From this control point, you will leave Carrick-on-Suire and progress to Kilsheehan, where you turn off the main road for Fethard (careful as the railway track runs through here). From Fethard we will be going through the Tipperary towns of Killenaule and Ballingarry; our third control point is at the old Ballingarry creamery, which is about a kilometre before Ballingarry village. Then we will be crossing back into the Kilkenny boundaries again and heading back to the city, via Kilmanagh.
All in all, this is an ideal route for someone who wants to travel the 200km distance without doing any major climbs. Although it still would be wrong to call it a flat route!
Directions to IWA Buildings
Most locals might not know where the IWA Building is, so if you get stuck we suggest that you ask for directions to St Kieran’s College, which they will! Across the road from this famous hurling nursery is the entrance to the laneway for the IWA Building. IWA (Irish Wheelchair Association), there is a sign at the entrance of this lane.
Coming from Dublin, Wateford, New Ross direction
- When you arrive on the ring road from Dublin or Waterford, please take the first exit.
- The last roundabout on the Ring Road should be the “Callan Road Roundabout”. At this roundabout, take the second exit to drive towards city centre.
- Take the second exit at the next roundabout.
- Approx. 500m from this roundabout, the laneway for the IWA Building is on the right hand side.
You can also see the location of the IWA Building by clicking here.