Travers Engineering Annaclone GP 2025

The Travers Eng. Annaclone GP will once again play host to the opening road race of the Irish cycle road race calendar for 2025 on Saturday 1st March. Often cited and used as an indicator of what riders have prepared adequately for a successful season, but it’s an event that also has a habit of unearthing talent that can cause upset to the seasoned performers.

In 2024 the main race catering for A1 & A2 riders produced a first, with the same junior rider claiming victory 2 years in a row. That very talented local rider, Seth Dunwoody, had a hugely successful 2024 season throughout Europe and has moved up to the ranks of the UCI Continental CTF Victorious team, a feeder team for the successful World Tour team Bahrain Victorious. The support race catering for A3 & A4 riders was won by Inspired Cycling’s Cameron Henry, another junior rider who went on to have e very successful season and has moved to the French based Under 19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant team.

As per previous years, 2 races will be hosted by Banbridge CC on the day. The main feature race will follow tradition and offer riders a sporting handicap over 6 laps of the rolling Co Down circuit with a sporting handicap for a total race distance of approx. 50 miles / 80 km, with the winner being awarded the Eddie Sands Memorial Cup. This race will cater for the new C+, C1 & C2 categories.

The support race will cover 4 laps of the same course giving a total distance of approx. 32 miles / 51 km. In addition to the Eddie Sands Memorial Cup for the winner of the feature race, the winner of the support race will be awarded the Travers Cup. The support race will cater for C3 category riders.

The event is classified as Regional B grade under the revised Cycling Ireland event grading structure, offering points for the top 8 riders in both races. The usual circuit starting from the Hawthorn Inn will be used, taking in Richies Bridge before a sharp left through Annaclone Village, Mays Corner and Katesbridge before returning to the Hawthorn Inn via the Ardbrin Rd. A detailed course profile can be found here.

The event is strictly pre-entry only, with entries closing at 21:00 on Wednesday 26th Feb.   We’re pleased to hold the event pricing at £15 per rider as per recent editions.

Cover photo courtesy of Toby Watson.