The 2013 routes have been altered with both the traditional 100 and 50km routes being slightly extended to a little over 110 and 60km. The 20km family cycle route stays the same.
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The 2013 routes have been altered with both the traditional 100 and 50km routes being slightly extended to a little over 110 and 65km. The 20km family cycle route stays the same.
The 110 and 65km routes will leave Naas at 10am and will this year head out to Johnstown and pass over the motorway at Kill staying together behind the safety car until we head out onto the Straffan Road. The routes then separate JUST AFTER THE BARBERSTOWN ROUNDABOUT.
Both The 110km and 65km routes go straight through Barberstown Roundabout heading towards Maynooth, then the 65km route turns left after about 300 yards. We would ask cyclists to exercise caution here and stay on the left if doing the 65km and on the right if doing the 110km when approaching this left hand junction/turn.
The 110km then heads towards Taghadoe Cross where it turns left towards Ladychapel and then right towards Maynooth. We bypass Maynooth using a back road and head into Kilcock along by the canal and turn left at Kilcock bridge and on towards the open road to Clane.
The 65km takes a nice back road to Rathcoffey and into Clane via Clongoweswood College.
Clane GAA on the Prosperous Road, have kindly allowed us to use their facilities for the foodstop this year and this is located at 47km into the 110km route and 31km into the 65km route.
After the foodstop both routes head to Prosperous, Kilmeague and for the first time this year, over the Hill of Allen and into Milltown. The routes separate in Milltown with the 65km heading on straight for Newbridge and the 110km turning right towards the Curragh.
Another right turn brings the 110km onto the familiar Boston Hill and then onto another new climb this year, Dunmurray Hill. Right turn at the top of Dunmurray and downhill via the duck pond and right turn to a new stretch of road that leads us to the foot of “The Wall”.
The Tour of Kildare would not be complete without a photo opportunity of cyclists ascending this traditional section of the TOK. New route through Kildare town and we pass the National Stud and Japanese Gardens on the way across The Curragh Plains. Next up is Athgarvan and Two Mile House and we then head home via Killashee.
After Milltown the 65km route takes a left before Newbridge and then another left at the College before heading back into Naas via Newhall.