Cycling challenge visits Tipp
French cyclist's strong links with Nenagh
Francois Sablayrolles, a French man who is married to local woman, Laura Dagg from Hogan’s Pass, will be cycling from Mizen Head to Malin Head in May, which will include a stop in Nenagh later this year.
This 650km route, which is organised by the cycling group the KC Wheelers every two years, aims to raise funds for Breast Cancer Ireland and the Kilmacud Crokes club, a GAA club in Dublin.
“It’s a charity event, and we all have a fundraising page, trying to raise money for Breast Cancer Ireland.
“We will be going from Mizen Head to Malin Head, and this time it won’t be taking the Wild Atlantic Way, we will be going through the Midlands, Nenagh, Carrick-On-Shannon and Letterkenny, over five days,” explained Francois
Longest Cycle to Date
Francois added: “Every stage is going to be about 150k and it’s about 650k in total. Its going to be a big challenge.”
The cycle starts on May 27 (Wednesday) to May 31 (Sunday) and there will be about 50 members taking part.
Francois, who splits his time between France and Ireland alongside his family, has cycled both with the KC Wheelers in Dublin and in Paris, with his local cycling group.
“I was cycling in Paris before we moved to Ireland, so I looked for a local club,” commented Francois. He came to cycle with the KC Wheelers after a friend told him about the club.
After cycling with the KC Wheelers in Dublin for two years, Francois and his family returned to France.
“I cycle with a cycle club here in Paris now, I joined my local club, we cycle every weekend,” he revealed.
However, Francois remains a member of the KC Wheelers in Dublin and is greatly looking forward to their fundraising challenge in May.
Training for the Challenge
“In Paris, its not as easy,” chuckled Francois about how he has found training for this challenge in France.
“The great thing in Dublin is that they have the hills, the club is based in South County Dublin and members can do a bit of climbing very easily, while in Paris, it’s a bit different.
“There is this [cycling] ring, which is very famous, where they have the racecourse, it’s a big hub for cyclists, you can go as fast as you want for as long as you want.
I combine this with the outings with my cycling club in Paris," added Francois.
“We cycle about 80 to 100k every weekend. I’m going to increase the distance in the run-up to this cycle in Ireland. The main challenge is going to be the weather, that’s what I fear the most,” he shared.
Love for Ireland
As a lecturer in the University of Angers in France, Francois specialises in Irish studies and is very passionate about promoting Irish literature in France.
This interest in Ireland is reflected in his desire to take on this cycling challenge in Ireland.
“I have a great interest in Ireland. I thought crossing Ireland would be quiet an interesting thing to do,” said Francois.
“It’s a great coincidence that the cycle is going through Nenagh,” he said, referring to his and his wife’s strong links to Nenagh.
“I’ll be quite happy to showcase Nenagh to the KC Wheelers,” he continued.
“The Midlands, and the Lough Derg, is absolutely lovely as well, so I thought it would be great to give publicity [to the area],” he explained, highlighting how he has plans to write any article for a French cycling magazine about this challenge and the Lough Derg area.