Cycling Competitions in Ireland - A Beginner's Guide

It’s summer, and that means that cycling is well and truly here. With the Tour de France happening as we speak, and the UCI World Tour looking to crown a new overall champion for 2025, cycling remains as one of the most watched and followed sports worldwide.

Whether it’s watching or riding a bike, cycling is a passion, and many individuals have made it part of their lives. Of course, Ireland is no exception, with many cyclists around the country, amateur or professional, enjoying one of the most beautiful sports there is.

But did you know there are cycling competitions in Ireland?

Although they aren’t as big as the Tour de France, nor in capacity or importance, as you may not be able to get the best of betting offers upon signing up on Irish cycling competitions, Ireland holds some of the world’s best talent in regular competitions across the year.

Today, we’ll be looking at the best cycling competitions in Ireland and how you can be part of them.

Before diving into the actual competitions, you must understand how the Irish scene works and what it’s all about. Cycling in Ireland is a blend of tradition and innovation, mixing top-tier roads with some of the most challenging routes.

However, due to the influence competitors like Sam Bennet or Daniel Martin have had in the country, cycling is accessible to everyone, with a very diverse community that goes from professionals to amateurs.

In Ireland, you will find various competitions based on different tracks or causes. For example, some events happen on established roads whilst others will require you to cycle through the woods or hard routes, with events ranging from professional competitions to charity events which tend to happen in spring/summer.

Not to mention that most competitions are divided by level, giving you a chance to win even if you’re just starting out, all with the aim of reinforcing the cycling community.

The only UCI competition in Ireland, the Rás Tailteann is one of the most historic cycling competitions in the world and has been part of the UCI calendar since 2005, all thanks to the growing community within Ireland.

Although the Rás Tailteann is only for professionals, which eventually means that regular individuals are not allowed to compete, it’s still exciting to watch the best cyclist in the world take the challenging and scenic routes the Rás Tailteann has to offer.

A viable option for those who want to regularly compete in some of the best races across Ireland without being near the pro level is joining one of the many Cycling Ireland Leagues. Here, individuals from across the country compete to crown the

country’s champion with weekly and monthly races.

Leagues like the Munster Cycling League or the Ulster Cycling Series are just some of the examples of reputable leagues across Ireland that offer organised races which are divided by skill level, thus ensuring fair competition and the chance for everyone to win despite their level.

A go-to option for those who like cycling but don’t want to become part of a competitive league would be to participate in charity events. These charity races give you the best of both worlds, the adrenaline of a race with all the fun of cycling without having to finish at a certain position, doing it just for pure love.

Charity events are held regularly, with events such as the Tour de Munster organising regular races mixing the fun of competing without all the requirements of an actual race/competition.

Cycling in Ireland has been growing rapidly across the whole country, with many individuals deciding to take a chance in the sport. Whether it’s for fun, to become competitive, or just to become more active and lose weight, cycling is an enjoyable

event where everyone wins.

In Ireland, you can make cycling as competitive as you want, joining a cycling club and competing in leagues or just training by yourself and joining charity events where you can feel all the excitement from a competitive race without having to matter about the result.

It’s a win for everyone, embark on your cycling journey now!