The 71st edition of the Lacey Cup hosted by Tralee Manor West Bicycle Club will be held on Sunday, March 1st. As is customary, the Lacey Cup will be the grand opener to the Munster Road Racing season.
The challenging 71km circuit always lends itself to aggressive racing with cyclists eager to test themselves and to show some good early season form. The race always draws a large field of riders, with over 200 competing in recent years. Some of Ireland’s top riders will be in action on the day, all intent on taking home the coveted Lacey Cup. Tralee Manor West Bicycle Club will also offer a generous prize fund of €1200.
As per Cycling Ireland rules, the C3 race will be run separately to the main C1/C2 race. John Mitchels GAA Club in Tralee will be the venue and headquarters for the races. The races will have a single 3km neutralised roll out from John Mitchels GAA Club. Departure from the race HQ will be at 11:10pm sharp. Following a brief stop, racing will officially commence from George Poff’s Garage on the Dingle Road at 11:30 and will pass through Blennerville at 11.35, Camp (12.00), Upper Camp, Gleann na nGealt (12.10), Annascaul (12.25), Inch (12.30), Boolteens (12.50), Castlemaine (12.55), Sliabh Mish (13.05) and finishing at 13.15 at the 60kph speed sign opposite Skehanagh Cross on the Killorglin Road on outskirts of Tralee. The race route can be found here: Lacey Cup Race Route
The main C1/C2 race is run on a handicap basis consisting of 2 groups with the first group of C2 category riders, followed by the C1 category riders. The separate C3 race will start approximately 5 mins after the C1 riders are underway and will follow the same race route.
The first prime of the race is Gleann na nGealt and will likely be hotly contested between the racers. Following Gleann na nGealt, the riders head towards Inch and on to Boolteens and Castlemaine. After Castlemaine the racers will climb Sliabh Mish mountain and contest the second prime for The Teddy Griffin Memorial Cup. Sliabh Mish mountain is usually where the race is broken up into a small group of elite C1 and C2 riders, with the expected winner coming from these groups.
Entry fee is €30, and registration is online only. Entry is available here: 2026 Lacey Cup Registration. Sign-on at race HQ will also be required between 09:00 and 10:30 on the morning of the event.
It all promises to be an exciting day of racing with plenty of action along the route to keep spectators entertained. Presentation of prizes will be at John Mitchels GAA Club.
To celebrate the Lacey Cup, Manor West Hotel are also offering a discounted accommodation rate. For full details, call 066 7194500 and quote ‘Lacey Cup 2026’ to avail of offers.
This year our main race sponsor is O’Sullivans Cycles Killarney and the race is also supported by George Poff Motors Tralee & Lacey Accounting. Our main club sponsors are the Manor West & Ashe Hotels, Tralee.
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