The Shay Elliott Memorial race is a one-day road cycling race held in spring in Ireland. It is run in honour of Ireland's first professional cyclist, Seamus Shay Elliott. The race was previously known as the ''Route de Chill Mhantain'' ("Wicklow Route"), became the ''Shay Elliott Trophy'' in the late sixties, then the ''Shay Elliott Memorial'' after his death in 1971. The race is the most prestigious Irish one-day event after the national championships.

History

In 1958, the first ''Route de Chill Mhantáin'' was held, organised by Bray Wheelers, a cycling club from Bray, County Wicklow. It was devised by Joe Loughman, one of the main organisers of the club, who wanted to present a tough race over the Wicklow Mountains. The Route de Chill Mhantáin was the first open massed-start race that Bray Wheelers had organised. The first edition was won by John Lackey. The race was renamed ''The Shay Elliott Memorial'' in later years. The trophy presented each year was won by Elliott himself as a prize for best amateur in France in 1955. Winners of the race include some of the best of Irish cycling, including two-time champion Sean Kelly (who was the only rider to have won the race while still a junior), former professional Peter Crinnion, two time Tour of Ireland winner

Pat McQuaid Patrick "Pat" McQuaid (born 5 September 1949 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish road racing cyclist. He had a strong amateur career and a brief professional period, before moving into race promotion and administration in Ireland and globally, ...

, Peter Doyle (the first rider to win the Tour of Ireland and the Ras Tailteann) and Phil Cassidy (a two-time winner of the Ras Tailteann). In 2002 the race became an international race. The 2015 edition of the race was won by former Track World Champion

Martyn Irvine Martyn Irvine (born 6 June 1985) is a Northern Ireland-born former cyclist, who competed professionally between 2008 and 2017 for the Pezula Racing, Planet X, , , and teams, and rode at the 2012 Olympic Games. He was also a directeur sportif fo ...

Format

The open mass-start race begins in Bray, and finishes there too, after taking a loop that goes over the Wicklow Mountains, including the steep ascent of the Old Wicklow Gap, locally known as

Croghan Croghan may refer to: Places Ireland * Croghan (village), County Offaly, Ireland * Croghan, County Roscommon, Ireland * Croghan Hill, a hill in County Offaly, Ireland * Croghan Mountain, a peak in the Wicklow Mountains, Ireland United State ...

, as well as the Glenmalure climb where the Shay Elliott monument lies by the roadside.

Past winners

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official Website of the organisers of the Shay Elliot Memorial –Bray Wheelers
Cycle races in Ireland Men's road bicycle races Spring (season) events in the Republic of Ireland Recurring sporting events established in 1958 1958 establishments in Ireland