65 cyclists signed on for the third annual Four Masters Cycling club Knockalla tour which left Letterkenny community centre in two groups. This year saw the cyclists taking on the knockalla hill climb from the opposite site, and also doing an extra 11 miles from previous years due to a last minute route alteration.
Starting of at Letterkenny the groups heading for Churchill, the Kilmacrennen, followed by Milford and Kerrykeel. With over 40 riders in the first bunch things where held pretty steady for the first 15 miles but then the pressure started to show with the field spreading out and a few riders falling of the back. Heading the field for most of the ride was Foyle cyclist Jim Doyle, and incase his doctor is reading this, it’s not the Jim Doyle who was injured on the Tour of the North and not the same Jim Doyle who had an operation last week.
Reaching the bottom of the Knockalla hill climb cyclists had a welcome break at the feed station before tackling the gruelling 1.5 mile hill climb, but when you reach the top and look out to the left its worth its. Nothing between you and a 2000 ft drop into the Atlantic Ocean but a crash barrier, what a view. Strong side winds kept cyclist alert on the descent again and everyone heading back for the flatter roads into Rathmullen, Ramelton, Kilmacrennan and back into Letterkenny for a well earned bowl of soup and sandwiches put up by Seamus and Michelle Connolly from Castle Café.
Well done to everyone who took part and finished.