| Nicole Reist has stretched her advantage in the solo competition as the leading Race Around Ireland solo racers head through Munster on their third day of non-stop racing.
The Swiss engineer and RAAM champion was already inside the County Kerry border as dusk fell on Tuesday evening with the leading male rider Henk Verouden of the Netherlands making his way out of Ennis, County Clare some 102km behind.
Verouden, in turn, enjoyed almost 60km advantage over third place rider, Yorkshireman John Musgrove in Ireland's toughest bike race.
Former winner Valerio Zamboni and Pat Doocey were locked in a titanic scrap for fourth, the pair rarely separated by more than a kilometre as they worked their way down through the Wild Atlantic Way.
Meanwhile, several counties further ahead in Midleton, County Cork, Team Aspect were the leading riders in the event and beginning to draw clear in an amazing battle for honours among the four-person teams.
The had edged 35km clear of the second squad on the road, Team Veloroos of Australia, still a relatively small advantage in the epic world of ultra cycling.
Veloroos, the leading women's team, were mere minutes ahead of Team Ninety-Nine from Meath and the St Tiernan's team from Dublin, those three squads covered by less than two kilometres on the road as they worked their way through Cork City.
With over 500km still remaining for the leading teams,
and time penalties to be taken into account, it's too close to call in one of the most thrilling contests in Race Around Ireland history.
Irish-Swiss combo Team Outmates controlled a 38km lead over Moynalty CC in the eight-rider team list as the riders switched on their lights and settled in for a third consecutive night in the saddle while Team Mick Ted enjoyed a near 100km lead over Team Aldo in the two-person match race.
With the rugged hills of Kerry awaiting for the solo riders and many of the teams, not to mention the arduous winch up the precipice of St Patrick's Hill in County Cork, there are still many challenges left in Race Around Ireland.
-ends- | | | | About Race Around Ireland On Sunday 27th of August 2017, cyclists from all over the world will line up in Trim, County Meath, to take on the ninth Race Around Ireland and the Irish Ultra Challenge. Race Around Ireland is regarded as one of the toughest cycling challenges in the world and will take the racers on a 2,151km journey past some of the most stunning scenery in Ireland. The route takes in Newgrange, The Causeway Coast, Malin Head, The Cliffs of Moher, The Ring of Kerry, Mizen Head, the Garden County (Wicklow) and back to Moynalty in County Meath and ALL within a week. The Irish Ultra Challenge is a 1,100km race and is seen as being the perfect stepping-stone into the world of ultra-cycling. Solo riders have 68 hours to finish. There is no team devision in the Irish Ultra Challenge. For more information, please visit: www.racearoundireland.com | | | | | | | |
