Eurocycles Eurobaby Junior Tour Route Announcement

Race Director, Alice Sherratt has announced the route for the 2019 Eurocycles Eurobaby Junior Tour. The 6 Day international cycling race for under 18s will once again return to their now traditional base at Ennis for the sixth consecutive year.

The race, which is in excess of 540 kilometres in length over six days consists of some changes to its previous editions. The traditional opening Time Trial has now been replaced with a short Road Race of 48km from Barefield towards Gort and Tubber before finishing at Barefield on Tuesday 9th July.

The departure from the opening Time Trial format should see some more open racing throughout the remainder of the week with time bonuses being awarded at the stage finishes instead.

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Stage 2 sees a return to West Clare with a 94km trek down the Shannon Estuary and onto the exposed Loop Head where the riders will traverse the Kilkee Cliffs before descending to the finish in Kilkee.

Sherratt describes the stage as testing as the roads vary in quality and width throughout the stage which means the fresh riders will be put to the test right from the start.

Stage 3 is now a new stage covering 90 kilometres through East Clare taking the riders via Scarriff, Caher and Maghera before finishing in the same format
as stage 1 at Barefield. These are rolling roads and with the stage only at 90 kilometres could prove to be quite aggressive from the start.

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Stage 4 has changed from the 2018 edition where the race will now return to starting from Ballyvaughan and finishing in Ballyvaughan also. At 110km, via the climbs of Carron, Corkscrew Hill and Castle Hill (Doonagore) before travelling the coast road through Fanore to finish in Ballyvaughan.

The stage can be regarded as quite decisive, particularly with the distance but can suit the strongman on the approach to the finish around Black Head. The weather has been kind to the race in previous editions but can always be a deciding
factor.

Stage 5 to Gallows Hill remains unchanged from 2018. At 124km in length, the riders will have to earn to keep their powder dry as as the majority of climbs come in the second half of the stage.

The race now takes in a larger loop through Killaloe before coming back to Broadford and continuing on the same approach to the finish on Gallows Hill via the climbs of Windy Gap and Sallybank.

Stage 6 remains unchanged as the riders wind up the 2019 edition with a 77.5km stage around the Ennis Circuit.

Entries are now open with forms and details for entry to the 2019 edition available on the Entry section on www.juniortourofireland.com

Full route details with expected timings are available on the Route section of
www.juniortourofireland.com