The route for the 2006 Wicklow 200 is a change from the route of the last 3 years, and features the return of the challenging Wicklow Gap, a new climb from Enniskerry to Glencree, and visits the town of Baltinglass for the first time. The total ascent is over 2500 metres, with four significant climbs and a constantly undulating route that will tire riders and pose a serious challenge.
Starting in UCD Belfield at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday 11th June 2006, riders will leave the city via Dundrum to Stepaside and Enniskerry. From there it's straight on past the gates of Powerscourt, and then a few kilometres after Enniskerry the route turns right to climb past the entrance to the Powerscourt waterfall and on towards Glencree. At the top of the valley it's sharp left and a further climb up to Sally Gap, at over 500 metres the highest point of the day's ride. From Sally Gap the route takes the long winding mountain road down past Glenmacnass waterfall to Laragh.
From Laragh riders will climb up to the Wicklow Gap, and then across to the village of Hollywood, on the N81 on the west side of Co. Wicklow. From there it's through the Hollywood Glen to Donard and the first stop of the day.
Leaving Donard, the route goes to the town of Baltinglass where it turns left to Rathdangan. Then to Mullen Cross roads and on towards Slieve Maan. For many riders Slieve Maan will be the hardest climb of the day. Although it's not the highest or the longest climb, its steepness and the fact that riders will be tired when they reach it make it one that will challenge most riders. Descending from Slieve Maan, riders will pass Drumgoff, at the mouth of the Glenmalure valley, and then climb the short but energy-sapping Greenane drag to reach the day's second stop at Rathdrum.
After pausing in Rathdrum, riders will turn right at the exit from the village, and leave the main road to go to Moneystown and then via Tomriland Cross Roads to rejoin the main road at Roundwood. Just after Roundwood the route goes left and up over the shoulder of Djouce mountain, before descending to rejoin the road back to Enniskerry travelled in the opposite direction so many hours before. Just before Enniskerry is the "wall", a short very steep climb that riders will swear was not there on the way out. From Enniskerry the route travels via Stepaside and Dundrum back to UCD, on the same road used for the outward journey earlier in the day.
The shorter Wicklow Challenge is run at the same time as the Wicklow 200, and shares much of its route with the Wicklow 200. The Wicklow Challenge is about 100 km long, and has about 1200 metres of ascent. Riders can choose on the day which route they want to ride.
The 2006 Wicklow Challenge will start, like the full Wicklow 200, from UCD Belfield at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday 11th June 2006. It will follow the same route as the Wicklow 200 through Stepaside and Enniskerry, but then the routes separate. Wicklow Challenge riders will go left a few kilometres after Enniskerry, and out onto the Long Hill where they will turn right to climb the hill up to the Sugarloaf. Following the undulating road to Roundwood, Annamoe, and Laragh, riders will arrive at the checkpoint in Rathdrum. After a short rest, riders will return from Rathdrum using the same route as the full Wicklow 200 riders. This will bring them through Moneystown, Tomriland Cross Roads, Roundwood, and over Djouce. At 320 metres Djouce is the highest point of this route. From here riders descend the steep drop (careful!) to rejoin the road used on the outward journey, and then via Enniskerry and Stepaside to the finish in UCD.
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