2018 COURSE INFO ULTRA RACE FINISH STAGE 1 Westport RUN 30KM STAGE 2 Clew Bay CYCLE 107KM STAGE 3 RUN 4.5KM STAGE 4 CYCLE 11KM N59 Louisburgh STEEP ASCENT/DESCENT Croagh Patrick STAGE 4 CYCLE 0 1 2 3 4 STAGE 3 RUN KILOMETERS N59 R336 N59 Sheeffry Hills Toormakeady Mweelrea RACE START Ben Gorm Maumtrasna R336 N59 STAGE 1 RUN Killary Fjord R300 Leenaun Devils Mother Lough Mask STAGE 2 CYCLE R336 STEEP DESCENT R300 Leenaun Hill Lough Nayfooey N59 6 COURSE DESCRIPTION The breakdown of discipline distances within the 152km total course: 1. Running: 34km approx 2. Cycling: 118km approx STAGE 1: RUN (29.5KM) Starting on Glassilaun beach at daybreak you will make your way to Killary Fjord and along the rough Famine greenway which hugs the shore. The mountains of Connemara and south Mayo soar either side of you. You will then begin your ascent into the unmarked Maamturk mountains, along the aptly named Col of Despondency. Descending into Leenane village you will overlook the fjord once more as you follow the Western Way trail to your first transition at Killary Adventure Centre. FOOD STOP 1: There will be a food/water stop at this first transition from run to bike. N59 Sheeffry Hills 0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETERS MweelreaULTRA RACE START Ben Gorm Maumtrasna R336 R336 N59 STAGE 1 RUN Killary Fjord Leenaun Devils Mother R336 STEEP DESCENT R300 Leenaun Hill Lough Nayfooey N59 STAGE 1 RUN ELEVATION Range Totals: Distance: 29.5km | Elev Gain/Loss: 1251M - 1199M Max Slope: 38.0% - 38.4% Avg Slope: 6.9% - 8.1% 600M 500M 400M 300M 200M 100M 2M 2.5km 5km 7.5km 10km 12.5km 15km 17.5km 20km 22.5km 25km 27.5km 29.5km STAGE 2: CYCLE (105KM) The cycle begins along the shore of Killary Fjord passing through Leenane village and into the Maam valley. Once again mountains loom above you on every side and houses are sparse. Turning into the Maamtrasna valley the route passes Lough Nafooey and Lough Mask before turning at Tourmakeady bringing you over the mountain pass to the Erriff river. Here the route comes back on to the N59 and RACE FINISH follows the Erriff back to Aashleagh Falls. Westport FOOD STOP 2: ThereClew will Bay be a food/water stop at Aashleagh Falls. You will then proceed along the north side of Killary Fjord and into the stunning Delphi valley. Leaving the Delphi Valley and heading for Drummin there are impressive hills to climb andN59 extreme care needed on the Louisburgh downhills. Expect severe corners andCroagh narrow Patrick country roads. On to a gradual climb (all on sealed roads) to 0 1 2 3 4 the back of Croagh Patrick and the next transition area. KILOMETERS ULTRA N59 R336 N59 Sheeffry Hills Toormakeady Mweelrea Ben Gorm Maumtrasna R336 N59 Killary Fjord R300 Leenaun Devils Mother Lough STAGE 2 CYCLE Mask R336 R300 Leenaun Hill Lough Nayfooey N59 STAGE 2 CYCLE ELEVATION Range Totals: Distance: 105km | Elev Gain/Loss: 1505M - 1319M Max Slope: 10.5% - 12.4% Avg Slope: 2.2% - 2.1% 288M 250M 200M 150M 100M 50M 4M 10km 20km 30km 40km 50km 60km 70km 80km 90km 105km STAGE 3: MOUNTAIN RUN - CROAGH PATRICK (4.5KM) Though your legs may be staging a protest but there is no completion without the traditional ascent and descent of Croagh Patrick (764m). Stay on the path and take care on the top section of this mountain as it has a lot of loose stones. FOOD STOP 3: There will be a food/water stop at Croagh Patrick base. Killary Gaelforce would like to acknowledge and thank all of the land owners of the Croagh Patrick mountain for the continued support of Gaelforce West, without which the event could not happen. Killary Gaelforce would like to share the ethos of care on Croagh Patrick with you our competitors. We ask that all competitors ensure that they ‘Leave No Trace’ on the mountain and that what they bring up with them MUST come down. We also encourage you to read the Mayo Mountain Rescue Safety Guidelines when climbing Croagh Patrick. 0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETERS ULTRA ULTRA RACE FINISH Westport Clew Bay Louisburgh STEEP ASCENT/DESCENT N59 Croagh Patrick STAGE 3 RUN R336 STAGE 3 RUN ELEVATION Range Totals: Distance: 4.26km | Elev Gain/Loss: 474M - 473M Max Slope: 47.0% - 46.7% Avg Slope: 21.6% - 21.6% 713M 600M 525M N59 N59 450M 375M 300M 246M 0.5km 1km 1.5km 2km 2.5km 3km 3.5km 4km 4.26km N59 STAGE 3: CYCLE FROM CROAGH PATRICK TO FINISH (13KM) Always obey the rules of the road. The route tracks back to the N59 which competitors follow into Westport town and the finish line. This is located at the westport leisure park in the town centre. 0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETERS ULTRA ULTRA RACE FINISH Westport Clew Bay Louisburgh N59 STEEP ASCENT/DESCENT Croagh Patrick STAGE 4 CYCLE R336 STAGE 4 CYCLE ELEVATION Range Totals: Distance: 12.8km | Elev Gain/Loss: 82.9 M - 286M Max Slope: 18.9% - 17.0% Avg Slope: 2.1% - 3.0% 239M 250M 200M N59 150M N59 100M 35M 1km 2.5km 5km 7.5km 10km 12.8km.