Club Sportives
Foyle Cycling Club was established in 2003 by a group of cyclists interested in completing sportives. These long-distance events have been at the cornerstone of everything the club has achieved, with literally thousands of miles covered over the years.
Each club sportive has a particular and unique flavour and serves as a big test to both beginner and expert alike. This year, to widen participation, most routes will feature a reduced mileage option to encourage all members.
sportive: noun, a long-distance road cycling event in which
a large number of cyclists ride a marked route
Breenagh
With the exception of our annual Inishowen 100, Breenagh is usually the Club’s best-attended sportive of the season. This 80 mile (129km) event helps to herald the opening of the season, to some La Primavera.
The riders head from the Sports Complex on the Buncrana Road to the Manor Roundabout, and then circumvent Letterkenny onto the road to Glenties. There are many rolling roads before the major climb of Meenaroy and then the very fast descent towards Finntown. After a quick stop, the riders then head back to Ballybofey and then on to Convoy, Raphoe and the ever familiar St Johnston, with Carrigans the final climb before arriving home in the city.
Reduced Mileage Option: Manorcunningham, Dry Arch, Lurgybrack, Stranorlar, Convoy, Raphoe, St Johnston, Carrigans.
(50 miles / 80 kms)
FULL
MILEAGE
80
MILES
129
KILOMETERS
REDUCED
MILEAGE
50
MILES
80
KILOMETERS
Gortin Lake
The 2nd sportive of the year is the beautiful and challenging run through the Sperrins to Gortin Lakes.The 75 mile (121km) route heads out through Ardmore to Claudy and Park before tackling the difficult ascent of Dart, the highest mountain road in our area.
Once over the cattle grid at the top and taking care on the gravelly descent towards Cranagh, riders will take in the full beauty of the Glenelly valley as they head up to Barnes Gap. After a fast descent, the riders again have to do some climbing up and around the lakes above Gortin.
After another brief stop at the village of Gortin, we head to Newtonstewart and then a fast run home through Sion Mills and Strabane along the western banks of the River Foyle to Derry.
Reduced Mileage Option: Ardmore, Claudy, Park, Dart, Plumbridge, Donemana, Newbuildings.
(55 miles / 89 kms)
FULL
MILEAGE
75
MILES
121
KILOMETERS
REDUCED
MILEAGE
55
MILES
89
KILOMETERS
Adrian Mullan Sportive
Every year Foyle CC host the Adrian Mullan Sportive in memory of Adrian who was tragically killed riding his bike around his beloved Donegal in October 2015.
Traditionally the sportive raises funds for the Foyle Hospice and other local charities
FULL
MILEAGE
50
MILES
80
KILOMETERS
Lough Salt
The 4th event of the year provides stunning vistas over the Atlantic Ocean. Starting from the Mount Errigal Hotel just outside Letterkenny, the 65 mile (105km) ride heads to Rathmelton, Milford and Carrigart before a loop around Atlantic Drive past Downings.
We then climb from Glen village up to Lough Salt followed by descent to Termon, where we swing right and head north again to Creeslough. The route is now near its end and a traverse across Muckish Gap takes us past Glenveagh Park, through Kilmacrennan and back to our start point in Letterkenny.
Reduced Mileage Option – Letterkenny, Rathmelton, Milford, Carrigart, Glen, Lough Salt, Milford, Kilmacrennan.
(55 miles / 89kms)
FULL
MILEAGE
65
MILES
105
KILOMETERS
REDUCED
MILEAGE
55
MILES
89
KILOMETERS
Fanad Run
For the 5th sportive of the season we head north again, this time to the beautiful Fanad peninsula. Another early Mount Errigal Hotel start sees us head to Ramelton, Milford and north alongside Mulroy Bay to Kerrykeel.
We continue north to Rosnakill and Fanad Head before turning for Portsalon. Gorgeous vistas of Lough Swilly unfold as we climb Knockalla before a fast descent to Rathmullan and a brief pause. The familiar road to Ramelton is followed and we climb out from the village and head south to Letterkenny to complete the 55 mile (89km) route.
Reduced Mileage Option – Letterkenny, Rathmelton, Milford, Kerrykeel, Rosnakill, Portsalon, Knockalla, Rathmullan, Rathmelton, Letterkenny.
(45 miles / 72kms)
FULL
MILEAGE
55
MILES
89
KILOMETERS
REDUCED
MILEAGE
45
MILES
72
KILOMETERS
FCC 4 County 200K Challenge
For the 5th sportive of the season we head north again, this time to the beautiful Fanad peninsula. Another early Mount Errigal Hotel start sees us head to Ramelton, Milford and north alongside Mulroy Bay to Kerrykeel.
We continue north to Rosnakill and Fanad Head before turning for Portsalon. Gorgeous vistas of Lough Swilly unfold as we climb Knockalla before a fast descent to Rathmullan and a brief pause. The familiar road to Ramelton is followed and we climb out from the village and head south to Letterkenny to complete the 55 mile (89km) route.
FULL
MILEAGE
124
MILES
200
KILOMETERS
Tour of the Sperrins
The 6th Sportive event of the year is another 70 mile (113km) challenge through the rolling roads of the Sperrins. Riders take the familiar road from Newbuildings to Donemana and then onto Plumbridge. The road from Plumbridge along the Glenelly valley takes in scenery of real beauty as we head towards Draperstown. A left into Moneyneany takes us over the climb towards Banagher Forest and then Feeney and Claudy, Ardmore and home.
Reduced Mileage Option – Newbuildings, Donemana, Plumbridge, Sawel, Park, Claudy, Ardmore.
(60 miles / 96kms)
FULL
MILEAGE
70
MILES
113
KILOMETERS
REDUCED
MILEAGE
60
MILES
96
KILOMETERS
Inishowen 100
The jewel in the crown of our sportive season is the ever-iconic Inishowen 100. This 102 mile plus ride (164km) heads to Buncrana then left to Dunree, over the 27% Mamore Gap and down towards Clonmany, Ballyliffin and Carndonagh.
We then head north to Malin and the Knockamany Bends above the stunning Five Fingers Strand, before heading to Malin Head. The food stop is followed by roiling roads towards Culdaff onto the majestic Kinnego Bay climb.
A loop around Stroove, another stop and then the ride home along Lough Foyle via Moville, Quigley’s Point and Muff.
Reduced Mileage Option – Buncrana, North Pole, Carndonagh, Malin, Five Finger Strand, Malin Head, Malin, Carndonagh, Glentogher, Quigley’s Point.
(64 miles / 103kms)
FULL
MILEAGE
102
MILES
164
KILOMETERS
REDUCED
MILEAGE
64
MILES
103
KILOMETERS
Glenveagh Escape
We start this beautiful 55 mile (89km) loop at the main car park in Letterkenny before heading to Churchill, Gartan Lough and alongside Glenveagh National Park. A right takes us alongside Muckish with a sweeping and rolling descent into Falcarragh.
We then head to Dunfanaghy for a café stop in the Workhouse before the scenic road through Portnablagh, past Ards Forest Park, Creeslough and Termon. After Kilmacrenan there is the ride up to the Mountain top before we reach our Letterkenny destination.
FULL
MILEAGE
55
MILES
89
KILOMETERS