Routes

The first stage of this year’s Victus Tour of Ulster departs from Cootehill in County Cavan at Midday.
The 139km loop in North County Cavan, is a challenging route, with numerous hills and a mix of terrain. Starting in Cootehill, the route takes cyclists through the villages of Ashfield and Lisboduff before heading towards Redhills. This first section of the route is relatively flat and should allow riders to find a good rhythm. After Redhills, the route becomes more challenging as it heads towards Belturbet, with several steep climbs and descents along the way. Once in Belturbet, the route follows the winding path of the River Erne towards Ballyhugh and Ballyconnell. From Ballyconnell, the route continues through the village of Doogary before tackling some more challenging hills on the way to Killashandra. The road then flattens out somewhat as it passes through Arvagh and Burr before reaching the town of Ballinagh. From Ballinagh, the route heads towards Cavan, with a mixture of flat and rolling terrain along the way. The final stretch of the route takes riders through the village of Tullyvin before returning to Cootehill.
Overall, this is a challenging and varied route that will test fitness and endurance. The stage finishes at Darley National School on Bridge Street at 1.30pm. Elevation 1263m

Stage 2 departs at the earlier time of 10am, covering 144km in East Cavan taking the riders through a mix of flat and hilly terrain, with some steep climbs and technical descents.
Starting in Cootehill, the route heads through the villages of Ashfield and Lisboduff before reaching Ballyhaise. This section of the route is relatively flat and will allow riders to warm up before the more challenging sections. After Ballyhaise, the route heads towards Cavan, passing through the town and then on to Ballyjamesduff. From there, riders will encounter some tough climbs and descents as they make their way towards Virginia. Once in Virginia, the route flattens out somewhat, with some rolling terrain as riders continue on towards Bailieborough. The section from Bailieborough to Kingscourt is particularly challenging, with some steep climbs and technical descents. From Kingscourt, the route takes riders through Northlands and Shercock before heading towards Mountain Lodge. This section of the route is relatively flat but still requires some effort to maintain a good pace. The final stretch of the route takes riders through Tonymackleduff before returning to Cootehill. This section of the route is mostly flat, but riders will need to keep up their speed and momentum to complete the loop in good time. The stage finishes at Darley National School on Bridge Street at 1.30pm. Elevation 1517m

Stage 3 departs at 10am, covering 144km in the counties of Cavan and Monaghan completing 7 laps of a 21km circuit taking riders through a mix of flat and rolly terrain, with a moderate climb each lap. Starting in Cootehill, the route heads towards Ballybay before turning left onto the R193 towards Rockcorry. This section of the route is where the difficulty begins, with several rollers to negotiate. The roads in this area can also be narrow and winding, requiring careful attention to maintain control and safety. After passing through Rockcorry, the route continues towards Carson. The final stretch of the route is mostly flat, which will allow riders to maintain a good pace. Overall, this route is challenging with a mix of flat and hilly terrain. The stage finishes at Darley National School on Bridge Street at 1.30pm Elevation 1365m