It’s the final round of the 2009 K Capital Challenge.  If you haven’t done the other rounds don’t worry you can still come along and enjoy the fantastic trails which have been purposely built for this event.

Race HQ for the day is Kippure house.  Kippure House is privately owned and it offers quality accommodation and facilities privately set in 240 acres of mature woodland and rolling farm pastures.  So if you don’t fancy coming up the morning of the race why not come up the day before and avail of their special B&B rates.  If you plan on bringing the family out for the day then there is lots for them to do while you negotiate the wonderful single track of the Dublin mountains.  Check out the website for more information.

As with the two other rounds racing starts at midday with all riders taking to the trails in a mass start.  For new racers one day license are available on the day and as with the other rounds it’s a great way to get an introduction to racing without the super competitive pressure of cross country racing.  For most it’s a day out in the hills and discovering new trails.  It’s also a way to test yourself and push yourself a little further than you have done before.  There is nothing like seeing a rider 50 meters ahead to make you dig that bit deeper and try and gain one more place.

The Course

Long course - 34km’s

Short course - 18km’s

The Start is a mass start leaving Kippure house with a nice fast 1.5km on the road…. A couple of minutes later and you will hit Athdown and you’re on fireroad and climbing for one kilometer. On from there and you head downhill on the first technical descent of the day and into some flowing fast single track for 1km before getting on to an old double track for 2km’s. You’re now in Cloughleagh and more winding single track and double track before getting into even more single track ahead of a fireroad climb for 200meters. Head down from here and full concentration required as you have 2km’s of intense single track…

After the last 2km’s of single track it’s time to get into a rhythm and focus on the steady 3km climb before you get into a steep one hundred meter climb before a short descent and a river crossing (feet up) and then more climbing through a fantastic open heather single track for another km.  Back on the road for a bit and some more tarmac let you get your breath back and it’s on to Butter Mountain and we’re back into a mix of fireroad and single track before descending down the old downhill track (just past Mick Jordan’s house, K Capital Challenge feed sponsor, so just pop in and ask for food if you’re hungry) and a bit more climbing now for about 2km’s and you’re into some nice double track climbing and descending.  From here it’s a short bit of tarmac before heading back towards Athdown to climb for the last time before hitting the fast flowing single track before the finish.  Once you’re back into the grounds of Kippure house it’s head down for the final finish loop.

Notes

* There will be a feed on the course as per the other rounds.
* It is hunting season in the area so pre-riding on the Saturday is not advisable.