69km Expert Route

Stage 1

Starting on your bike, on the banks of the River Shannon, with a controlled rolling start for 1km, this short but tough stage will get the heart rate pumping. After a nice 5km on the main road you will hit the 15% gradient for 2km up to the transition area located historic site the Graves of Leinster Men. The toughest cycle of the day.

Terrain: Secondary roads, sealed tarmac

Precautions: Open secondary roads, debris and water on road in parts, steep ascent

Distance: 7.5km cycle

Total elevation: 295m

Stage 2

Parking your bike at the bike racking (Transition 1) you will follow a marked trail up to the summit of Tonn Toinne and back down on a circular route to the transition area through forest, mountain and gravel trails.

Terrain: Forest, gravel and mountain rails

Precautions: Slippery when wet, steep descent

Distance: 7km trail run

Total elevation: 320m

Stage 3

Starting at Transition 1, you will cycle on small country roads to Garrykennedy. The first 3km is a fast downhill on a secondary road with grass in the middle of the road, please be take care on this section. From Garrykennedy you will follow the Lough Derg way with some short steep hills thrown in.

Terrain: Secondary roads, sealed tarmac. 500m rough section

Precautions: Open secondary roads and debris on road

Distance: 26km cycle

Total elevation: 329

Stage 4

To cross the River Shannon safely we have constructed a new temporary bridge that is a 3m wide floating pontoon. You must dismount your bike and proceed across the pontoon on foot with your bike.

Terrain: Temporary pontoon.

Precautions: moving floating pontoon.

Distance: 100m run with bike

Stage 5

You must run with your bike along the key side to the main road. From here you will get back on your bike and cycle along the main R463 road.After 4km you will go left and hit the Crag Wood climb on your bike. Back onto the main road and into transition number 2 to rack your bike.

Terrain: Sealed tarmac.

Precautions: Open roads to traffic.

Distance: 10km cycle

Total decent: 188

Stage 6

From the bike transition at Twomilegate recreation area, you will proceed to the kayak stage on the shores of Lough Derg. This will entail a 1km triangular kayak route. We provide all required kayak equipment, full safety cover on the lake and double sit-on-top kayaks. You must get into the double kayak with the next person who arrives at the kayak section after you.

Distance: 1km kayak.

Stage 7

Starting at the kayak transition area on the shores of Lough Derg, you will proceed on foot on a fully marked out course around the Ballycuggaran trails to the summit of Moylussa at a height of 532m. This is a varied trail run on fire track, forest, and bog trail. It will be the toughest section on this route. Trail runners are required for this section.

Terrain: Fire track, forest & bog trails

Precautions: Slippery when wet, steep descent

Distance: 12km trail / mountain run

Total elevation: 628m

Stage 8

After the Moylussa trail run you will get back on the bike in Transition 2 for a short 3.5km cycle on a flat good surface road to Transition 3 in Killaloe town. You must dismount your bike when entering the transition. Please note you will rack your bike for the final time here and you are not allowed to collect your bike from this transition until 14.30 after the race to allow all participants to rack their bikes and complete the race safely.

Terrain: Good sealed tarmac roads

Precautions: Open secondary roads

Distance: 4km cycle

Total elevation: 39m

Stage 9

After you drop your bike at transition 3 your will proceed on foot along the river Shannon shoreline to cross the river on the temporary pontoon. The pontoon will allow you to safely cross the river and run directly into the finish line at Flanagans on the Lake on the Ballina (Tipperary) side of the river. A truly unique finish your Quest adventure.

Terrain: Gravel trail, pontoon

Distance: 1km run