Lacey Cup 2022

LACEY CUP 2022 SUNDAY 6TH MARCH

The 2022 Lacey Cup will be held on Sunday, 6th March hosted by Tralee Manor West Bicycle Club. The Lacey Cup is the grand opener to the Munster racing season when all cyclists will be anxious to show some good early season form.

The race always draws a large field of riders, with over 200 competing in recent years. Some of the top Irish riders will be in action on the day, all intent on taking home the coveted Lacey Cup.

This year in accordance with new rulings from Cycling Ireland, there will be a separate race for the A4 category, which will start after the main A1/A2/A3 race. There is no separate Veteran Categories or prizes.

The course is the usual challenging 75KM circuit of which always proves to be a very tough race and with past winners such as Conor Kissane (2019), Matteo Cigala (2018), Sean Hahessy (2017), Daragh O’Mahoney (2016), Seán Mc Kenna ('15), Damian Shaw ('14), Seán Lacey (‘09,'10,'11,'12,'13) Martin O Loughlin ('07,'08), Matt Slattery ('03).

The race will have a neutralised start from Manor West Hotel, sponsors of the Tralee Manor West Bicycle Club and will be the main venue and headquarters for the race. Departure from the hotel will be at 12:15pm sharp. Racing will officially commence from George Poff's Garage on the Dingle road at 12.30 and will pass through Blennerville (12.35), Camp (13.00), Upper Camp, Gleann na nGealt (13.10), Annascaul (13.25), Inch (13.30), Boolteens (13.50), Castlemaine (13.55), Sliabh Mish (14.05) and finishing at 14.15 at 60kph signs at Skehanagh Cross on the Killorglin road in Tralee.

The main race is run on a handicap basis consisting of 3 groups with the first group of Category A3 riders, followed by the A2’s, and finally the group of elite A1 Category riders.

The A4 race will start approximately 5 mins after the A1 riders are underway. This will follow the same route.

The first prime of the race is Gleann na nGealt will be hotly contested between the A3 riders for the Jackie O'Connor Memorial Trophy.

As in previous years the A1 and A2 groups behind will have merged and will have the job of catching the race leaders as they head towards Inch.

After Castlemaine the riders head for the 2nd Prime, The Teddy Griffin Memorial Trophy, the final climb of Sliabh Mish Mountain where the race has usually broken up into a small group of elite A1 and A2 riders, with the expected winner coming from these groups.

It all promises to be an exciting days racing with plenty of exciting action along the route to keep spectators entertained.

Race Registration will be online only. Entry fee €20.