Giant'S Causeway Coast Sportive

The classic 'Should I do Torr Head or not?' dilemma 🤔
Torr Head is a monster but the views from the top are worth it (you might not be able to feel your legs though!)
Our new 60 mile route features the option to bypass Torr Head. Sign up for 2019's Sportive here: bit.ly/Sportive2019Booking 🚴‍♀️

We have a great Black Friday offer on! 🚨
The next 70 people to sign up for the Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive 2019 are entitled to a free bike tune up from our friends at Decathlon UK 🚴‍♀️
Book online here: bit.ly/Sportive2019Booking
... To use your offer, just bring your booking confirmation email to the Belfast Store!
#GiantsCausewayCoastSportive
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The team behind bit.ly/CyclingInIreland had a blast cycling our new 60 mile route over the weekend, checking out places like the Dark Hedges and Torr Head - the pictures they captured are stunning 😍
The 60 mile route is great for cyclists wanting to step up from the 35 mile option and experience more of the North Coast and Glens of Antrim 🚴‍♀️
#GiantsCausewayCoastSportive #GiantsCauseway #CycleNI

Awesome video from Outsider Magazine showcasing the Causeway Coastal Route! It features some of the amazing scenery you'll see at the Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive 2019 😮🚴‍♀️
#GiantsCausewayCoastSportive #CausewayCoast #CycleNI

Our Early Bird offer is still available!
This offer entitles the first 200 people to signup for the 2019 Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive to receive a free bike tune up from Decathlon UK 🚴‍♀️
To use your offer, just bring your booking confirmation email to the Belfast Store!
... #GiantsCausewayCoastSportive
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Congratulations to Alan, our survey competition winner! He won a £50 Marks and Spencer voucher.
Thank you to everyone who completed our survey for 2018's Sportive, the feedback is really appreciated! We'll use this feedback to make 2019's event even better 🚵‍♂️
See you all in June 2019!
... #GiantsCausewayCoastSportive
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Awesome Autumnal photos from Sportive participants 🍁
If that doesn't make you want to get out on the bike I don't know what will!
📸 Andrea Quinn, Rory McHugh & Gary Henderson
... #cycling #GiantsCausewayCoastSportive
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Follow the Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive Instagram page to keep up-to-date with everything Sportive related 🚵‍♂️
Scan our Nametag through the Instagram camera by hovering over the Nametag, and then holding and pressing down until the Nametag is captured. Get following! 📸

Is there a nicer time of the year than Autumn to be on your bike? 🤔
Post your favourite cycling photo from Autumn below! 🍁
#GiantsCausewayCoastSportive #cycleni #cycling

Looking for another cycling challenge? Check out The Scenic Carlingford Ferry Loop Sportive on 3rd November 2018 and start your preparation for the Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive 2019 🚲

We want to hear your Sportive Stories from 2018's event and the lead up to the big day 😄
Any funny, inspirational, or just plain weird stories you have from 2018's Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive (like your existential crisis on Torr Head for example 😱) we want to hear them!
Comment below, or email us at info@cycleni.com and we'll share some of our favourites 🚴‍♀️
... #SportiveStories #GiantsCausewayCoastSportive
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Great to see Visit Causeway Coast and Glens sharing our event! 🚲

Massive congrats again to our 2018 King and Queen of the Mountain, Sean McIntyre and Claire Richardson, pictured here with their Primal Theta winning jerseys from the folks at Primal Europe Ltd 🚴‍♀️ They absolutely crushed Torr Head! 👏
Think you've got what it takes to be 2019's King or Queen of the Mountain? Head over to bit.ly/Sportive2019Booking to sign up for the Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive 2019

Our new 60 mile route for 2019's #GiantsCausewayCoastSportive is perfect for those cyclists looking to step up from the 35 mile option and experience more of the incredible Causeway Coast 🚲
Check out the link to see full details of the 60 mile route, including a 3D map which shows elevation along the route!
Bookings are now open for 2019's Sportive on Saturday 22nd June: bit.ly/2zsYzmQ

This is your last chance to pick up a 2018 Sportive jersey!
We will place final orders at 9am tomorrow morning (Friday 28th September) so make sure to purchase yours before then.
Don't forget they are small fitting! Check the sizing guide via the link below.

Check out our new Instagram and give us a follow for all things #GiantsCausewayCoastSportive related! 🚴‍♀️

Check out the new 60 mile route added for 2019's Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive. It takes in more of the North Coast's epic scenery, and riders can choose whether to tackle Torr Head or not (good luck!) 😅
Booking is now open for 2019's event at: http://bit.ly/2zsYzmQ 🚴‍♀️

Check out the official video from the Giant's Causeway Coast Sportive 2018 by Tourism Ireland: http://bitly.com/2CGGvt6 🚲 See if you can spot yourself!
Remember booking is now open for 2019's event, which is in June (more sun!) and features a new 60 mile route. Register here - https://bit.ly/2l2ExGl
... Our new sponsor Decathlon UK have been kind enough to offer the first 200 people to sign up a free bike tune - just bring your booking confirmation to their Belfast store 😃
#GiantsCausewayCoastSportive #NewDate #NewRoute
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Without doubt the toughest day I have ever spent on a bike. Organisation, communications, signage, food stops and atmosphere all excellent! Well done. If your up for a challenge, do it. I'll be back again.

Very well organised and very friendly. Loved the route. Thanks to all. Would love a "I survived Torr Head" t-shirt!! Next year ?? Great route, lovely scenery.

Please encourage a "leave no trace" policy, gels especially, we can all do our bit for the environment.

The. best sportive in NI by far and keeps getting better & better after the poor feed stops 4 years ago.

Great also moving the food stop this year again as they're all inside. Good call folks.

I'd a brilliant day even tho it was such a bad morning so thank you to all that help organise this event.

Thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their time to help out on the day. They did a great job and when food was needed it was there for us along with an encouraging word. Thanks also to the organisers for a good tough route, it was nice to see all the different cycling clubs enjoying the day.

Such an amazing day yesterday with blue skies and little headwind ordered. Really well organised; well signposted and fuel stop well plenished. A really friendly ride with not any jostling to compete. Did the short scenic route and will be back for another. Thanks

Six of us travelled over from the flatlands of Essex to undertake the full 115mile Route with the inclusion of Torr Head after 100 miles. The rain made for a difficult morning but the sun came out in the afternoon and made for a pleasant if painful finish. The feed stops were fantastic and the welcome from the locals in Ballycastle and riders couldn't have been warmer. A fantastic weekend, highly recommended for anyone thinking of travelling over from the mainland for the event. We'll definitely be back!

Really enjoyed yesterday despite Torr Head near killing me lol. Great weather and scenery and thanks to all the organisers and volunteers who gave up their Saturdays to help us get through the day especially the gal at the feed station before Torr ��Can't wait til next year again!!�

I had never done this sportive before - BEST food and fuel available in any I have ever done! Well marshalled and signposted. Chain Reaction mechanics awsome. The goody bags were brilliant - amazingly well stocked (nice suprise). Love the numbers on the bike rather than pinned to your back. The long run and Torr Head was as bad and painful as everyone told me - but the gorgeous pasta at the end erased that in minutes - well done everyone - the morning weather didn't beat us :-)

Great, if hard, days cycling. Torr head, your bike needs properly geared to cope with this monster climb.

Great sportive - did this for the second time yesterday ( September 2016) having completed it for the first time last year . Well organised event , great route , marshals were fab and food stops were plentiful. Atmosphere at end also good as well as post ride pasta and goody bags etc . Thanks to CRC support also at feed stations on any bike issues . One of the best events in the sportive calendar . Look forward to next year .

Great event. Seriously challenging. The food stops were excellent. Would have liked a few more signs in the villages and a few more marshalls at T-Junctions. Especially at the T- Junction coming off Thorr Head, it was very fast with no cover. Apart from those minor quibbles it was an all round excellent event. Will be back next year�

Great event, superbly organised and marshalled and we feed like kings at the food stops! Route is beautiful (& challenging) and shows off all that's great on the Causeway Coast. If you're going to do a Sportive - choose this one.

Great event with superb fuelling stops. My thanks to all concerned especially the marshals at top of Orra, Glendun and Martinstown, gems.

First time giving this a go at the ripe old age of 66. Chose the middle route with leaving out Torr Head. What a tough day,with rain,wind,hills,and mini mountains. But will I be back? If i'm still alive and kicking I'll be there. Great food,great marshalling,great goody bag etc.etc. Plenty of encouragement and company from strangers who typified what cycling is about. Well done to all who helped make it happen.

Fantastic event, the marshals were brilliant and the food stops had everything you could have asked for. Without doubt the best run sportive I've done. Excellent stuff, see ya's all next year for more Torr Head torture !!!

Excellent sportive event, very well organised, signed and marshalled, top notch feed stations and great shower and changing facilities at the finish line, and a nice welcome to boot! We will be back next year for our 5th Giant's Causeway. Hughie Gallagher, Gweedore

Done for the 1st time and couldnt say a bad thing about it. Very well organised, plenty of food, drinks and gels. Excellent tough long route and 2 other shorter ones to choose from also. Needed the service car after a tire blow out and it was with me in less than 5 minutes from my call to HQ. Will definately be doing next year again. Well done to all involved

Brilliant event. Even the rain couldn't dampen the spirits of hundreds of cyclists who braved the wind and rain to complete the challenge. Well done to all the organisers, it was a pleasure to be part of it

Firstly, I'd like to say this was a fantastically marshalled route with great feed stations, manned with enthusiastic and helpful volunteers.

Sadly for me though, when I crossed the finish line at 16:11 it was raining again and people seemed a little light on the ground.

Owing to fatigue after 7 hours plus in the saddle and over 7000ft of climbing I found myself circling the car park a few times before heading to my car to collect my kit bag. I can tell you I have never been so happy to get into a hot shower. The facilities at Pairc MacUilin were second to none and I definitely think it was a big bonus having the Sportive HQ here. Sadly, though this meant I didn't receive my goodie bag or medal for completing route 1 "The Giant Killer".

Without wishing to sound critical, if riders had of been corralled into a bottle neck. I would have been protected from my own stupidity and would have received my medal.

I have since sent off an email and pm in hope that I might be able to get it forwarded to me, as I would love to have it as a memento of what was the hardest day I've ever had in the saddle. A truly awesome challenge for sure.

I had said, "never again" but already I'm considering a return next year, However, next time I don't think I'll ride it with a 42 inside ring and a 25 as a get out LOL..

Without doubt the toughest day I have ever spent on a bike. Organisation, communications, signage, food stops and atmosphere all excellent! Well done. If your up for a challenge, do it. I'll be back again.

Very well organised and very friendly. Loved the route. Thanks to all. Would love a "I survived Torr Head" t-shirt!! Next year ?? Great route, lovely scenery.

Please encourage a "leave no trace" policy, gels especially, we can all do our bit for the environment.

The. best sportive in NI by far and keeps getting better & better after the poor feed stops 4 years ago.

Great also moving the food stop this year again as they're all inside. Good call folks.

I'd a brilliant day even tho it was such a bad morning so thank you to all that help organise this event.

Thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their time to help out on the day. They did a great job and when food was needed it was there for us along with an encouraging word. Thanks also to the organisers for a good tough route, it was nice to see all the different cycling clubs enjoying the day.

Such an amazing day yesterday with blue skies and little headwind ordered. Really well organised; well signposted and fuel stop well plenished. A really friendly ride with not any jostling to compete. Did the short scenic route and will be back for another. Thanks

Six of us travelled over from the flatlands of Essex to undertake the full 115mile Route with the inclusion of Torr Head after 100 miles. The rain made for a difficult morning but the sun came out in the afternoon and made for a pleasant if painful finish. The feed stops were fantastic and the welcome from the locals in Ballycastle and riders couldn't have been warmer. A fantastic weekend, highly recommended for anyone thinking of travelling over from the mainland for the event. We'll definitely be back!

Really enjoyed yesterday despite Torr Head near killing me lol. Great weather and scenery and thanks to all the organisers and volunteers who gave up their Saturdays to help us get through the day especially the gal at the feed station before Torr ��Can't wait til next year again!!�

I had never done this sportive before - BEST food and fuel available in any I have ever done! Well marshalled and signposted. Chain Reaction mechanics awsome. The goody bags were brilliant - amazingly well stocked (nice suprise). Love the numbers on the bike rather than pinned to your back. The long run and Torr Head was as bad and painful as everyone told me - but the gorgeous pasta at the end erased that in minutes - well done everyone - the morning weather didn't beat us :-)

Great, if hard, days cycling. Torr head, your bike needs properly geared to cope with this monster climb.

Great sportive - did this for the second time yesterday ( September 2016) having completed it for the first time last year . Well organised event , great route , marshals were fab and food stops were plentiful. Atmosphere at end also good as well as post ride pasta and goody bags etc . Thanks to CRC support also at feed stations on any bike issues . One of the best events in the sportive calendar . Look forward to next year .

Great event. Seriously challenging. The food stops were excellent. Would have liked a few more signs in the villages and a few more marshalls at T-Junctions. Especially at the T- Junction coming off Thorr Head, it was very fast with no cover. Apart from those minor quibbles it was an all round excellent event. Will be back next year�

Great event, superbly organised and marshalled and we feed like kings at the food stops! Route is beautiful (& challenging) and shows off all that's great on the Causeway Coast. If you're going to do a Sportive - choose this one.

Great event with superb fuelling stops. My thanks to all concerned especially the marshals at top of Orra, Glendun and Martinstown, gems.

First time giving this a go at the ripe old age of 66. Chose the middle route with leaving out Torr Head. What a tough day,with rain,wind,hills,and mini mountains. But will I be back? If i'm still alive and kicking I'll be there. Great food,great marshalling,great goody bag etc.etc. Plenty of encouragement and company from strangers who typified what cycling is about. Well done to all who helped make it happen.

Fantastic event, the marshals were brilliant and the food stops had everything you could have asked for. Without doubt the best run sportive I've done. Excellent stuff, see ya's all next year for more Torr Head torture !!!

Excellent sportive event, very well organised, signed and marshalled, top notch feed stations and great shower and changing facilities at the finish line, and a nice welcome to boot! We will be back next year for our 5th Giant's Causeway. Hughie Gallagher, Gweedore

Done for the 1st time and couldnt say a bad thing about it. Very well organised, plenty of food, drinks and gels. Excellent tough long route and 2 other shorter ones to choose from also. Needed the service car after a tire blow out and it was with me in less than 5 minutes from my call to HQ. Will definately be doing next year again. Well done to all involved

Brilliant event. Even the rain couldn't dampen the spirits of hundreds of cyclists who braved the wind and rain to complete the challenge. Well done to all the organisers, it was a pleasure to be part of it

Firstly, I'd like to say this was a fantastically marshalled route with great feed stations, manned with enthusiastic and helpful volunteers.

Sadly for me though, when I crossed the finish line at 16:11 it was raining again and people seemed a little light on the ground.

Owing to fatigue after 7 hours plus in the saddle and over 7000ft of climbing I found myself circling the car park a few times before heading to my car to collect my kit bag. I can tell you I have never been so happy to get into a hot shower. The facilities at Pairc MacUilin were second to none and I definitely think it was a big bonus having the Sportive HQ here. Sadly, though this meant I didn't receive my goodie bag or medal for completing route 1 "The Giant Killer".

Without wishing to sound critical, if riders had of been corralled into a bottle neck. I would have been protected from my own stupidity and would have received my medal.

I have since sent off an email and pm in hope that I might be able to get it forwarded to me, as I would love to have it as a memento of what was the hardest day I've ever had in the saddle. A truly awesome challenge for sure.

I had said, "never again" but already I'm considering a return next year, However, next time I don't think I'll ride it with a 42 inside ring and a 25 as a get out LOL..