Beginning this Saturday and running over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, the Dixon’s Contractors Tour of the North looks set to produce some of the most brutal, exciting racing seen in many years. This year, the race comprises of four stages, three road stages and a TT. On paper, the stages appear short but there is a feast of climbing, in particular, a special 36 mile test with 5100 feet of elevation and 21 miles of climbing. This is sure to be a battle of epic proportions that will make the legs wobble.
120 of the finest riders from North and South as well as across the water will duke it out over the 4 stages with several previous winners, countless race animators and numerous young guns looking to make their mark and walk away with a prestigious win on their palmarès and a part of the £4000 prize pot.
Stage 1
First up. Stage 1. Easter Saturday. 31st March. This is a stage that had to be completely revamped a few weeks ago due to road closures.
The stage has been kept at a similar level of difficulty with two Cat 1 climbs and a Cat 2 over 65 miles. (105 km)
The race will start from the Seven Towers Leisure centre at noon.
Neutralised until Broughshane, the flag drops and the race will be on. The riders will climb up over the back end of Glenarm and down towards the village before cutting left and onto the Cat 2 climb of Ballyvaddy. Possibly the ‘easiest’ climb on paper of the race, it’s a 2.5 mile long haul back up Glencloy, before descending at some speed down to Carnlough.
A fast 8-mile section around the coast takes the race to the start of the Cat 1, 5.5 mile climb of Glenariffe at Waterfoot. Descending back down Glenballyeamon, the race enters Cushendall turning left and then a mile later, left again onto the Cat 1 climb of Gaults road.
Gaults is a long, testing, grinder of a climb that is open to the elements and it’s one that will test the strong men.
Over the top it’s a fast run down into Ballymena and on to the flat out finish on the Fry’s road.
4330 feet of climbing in total it’s a testing start to this years Dixons Tour of the North. The weather will have a big effect on this one but will it come down to a gallop or will the hard men escape?
Stage 2
Sunday, 1st April see’s the HQ move for the remainder of the race to the Galgorm Community Centre.
Stage 2 is a 4.8 mile individual non aero TT starting at 9am.
The start is just across the road from HQ and will head up into and through Ahoghill, finishing at the top of Tully.
Draggy rather than Hilly, the total climbing is only 98m (321 feet) but those who have ridden the Wallace Caldwell which is part of the classic league will know how tight this can be. The men will have to keep the chain tight on this one as there is no crystal cranking on this.
Stage 3
Those who rode or spectated last year will remember this epic. On paper, 65 miles doesn’t seem like much but this will sort the men from the boys.
The race will roll out from Galgorm at 13:45 and the flag will drop at Slatt bridge at 14:00.
A fast run up to Kilnock with some uncategorised lumpy bits thrown in for good measure will wake the legs up before the race turns right onto the circuit. Get left behind here and it’s a long day in the saddle.
There then follows 5 laps of the Roguery circuit. A run down to loughbeg and a flat run to McCoys corner see’s a left turn onto the fun bit.
A few lifts over the next 1.5 miles will soften the legs before the KOH hell of the mighty Roguery. There is no hiding here.
The KOH is only 3 mins of effort but it averages 14% and with highs of close to and over 20%.
A perfect hill for spectators, it was packed last year TDF style as can be seen from the videos on Facebook. Arnau Voss holds the Strava KOM here and if you have a look you can see the power needed just to ride this, let alone race it.
After 5 laps the race will head back down to the finish at Slatt Bridge.
65 miles (105km) and 785m (2600 ft) of climbing.
Stage 4
Easter Monday and the one that everybody has been anticipating. This will be huge. Some men won’t make it.
The race will leave Galgorm at 09:45 and is neutralised through Ballymena and out to and through Broughshane. As with stage 1, the flag will drop outside the village and this time the race will go straight to Carnlough.
Turning left there follows the same fast, flat run around the coast, however this time at Waterfoot the race turns right and heads for Cushendall. From Cushendall the race turns right and with 22 miles raced we start what is easily the hardest section of any stage we’ve ever seen in the Tour.
First up the race will tackle the Cat 1 of Cross Slieve. A hidden gem between Cushendall and Cushendun it’s a 2.3 mile climb hitting 16 % in places with a technical, hell for leather descent off the hill to Knocknacarry and through the picture postcard village of Cushendun.
Next up….the Torr.
The last time a big bike race went over it was the Milk race almost 30 years ago and if you speak to the old hands of your clubs, they will tell you how that went.
This has been listed as HC category because it really is worthy of it.
The Torr is basically 4 climbs. Hitting 24% on hairpins each climb is up to a mile long with sharp technical descents in between.
The KOH is at the end of the last section which means the total length of the KOH section is 6.3 miles.
After the KOH flag, the race drops down a couple of miles before going onto the 5.3 mile Cat 2 climb of Loughareema. An initial short 7% section leads onto a long 3-4 % big ring grinder up the vanishing lakes with a short steeper 500m to the KOH.
We then drop down 6 miles and then turn right onto the final Cat 1 climb of the day the 8 mile long Slieveamaddy (Orra to the locals).
A climb of 2 sections, the first steeper and the second through the forest, less so takes us over one of the highest roads in the country at over 1300 feet.
The race then drops down to the main Cushendall road and back to Ballymena for the same Fry’s road finish as Monday.
2018 Rider List
| Number | Name | Licence | Team Name | UCI Licence Number | Young Rider |
| 1 | Dale Bonnar | 18A30195 | Ballymena Road Club – CRC | IRL 19870511 | |
| 2 | David Dougan | 18A30544 | Ballymena Road Club – CRC | GBR 19850709 | |
| 3 | Shane Smith | 18A10122 | Ballymena Road Club – CRC | IRL 19904028 | |
| 4 | Martin Robb | 18A30221 | Ballymena Road Club – CRC | IRL 19870306 | |
| 5 | Philip Bremner | 18A20183 | Ballymena Road Club – CRC | IRL 19910412 | |
| 6 | Kevin McKinney | 18A118A10002 | Banbridge CC | IRL19930412 | |
| 7 | Peter Hughes | 18A218A20135 | Banbridge CC | IRL19820327 | |
| 8 | John Buller | 18A218A20286 | Banbridge CC | IRL19990204 | Young Rider |
| 9 | Gareth McKee | 18A118A10057 | Banbridge CC | IRL19880611 | |
| 10 | Roger Aiken | 18A118A10204 | Banbridge CC | IRL19819519 | |
| 11 | Alistair Robinson | 18A20206 | Bann Wheelers CC | 18A20206 (M50) | |
| 12 | Andrew Robinson | 18JR0112 | Bann Wheelers CC | 18JR0112 | Young Rider |
| 13 | Glenn Howe | 18A20127 | Bann Wheelers CC | 18A20127 (M50) | |
| 14 | Nigel Bradley | 00001 | Bann Wheelers CC | UCI1 | |
| 15 | Geoff Robinson | 18A118A10073 | Bray wheelers | Irl19810515 | |
| 16 | Mark McGinley | 18A318a30365 | Bray wheelers | 19990627 | Young Rider |
| 17 | Mitchell McLaughlin | 18A218a20203 | Bray wheelers | 19980318 | Young Rider |
| 18 | David Conry | 18A218A20028 | Bray wheelers | 19981003 | Young Rider |
| 19 | Ali Gribbon | 18A118a10021 | Carn wheelers | Irl19740921 | |
| 20 | Craig Gibson | 18A218a20160 | Carn wheelers | Irl19731217 | |
| 21 | Gerard Scullion | 18A218a20220 | Carn wheelers | Irl19770218 | |
| 22 | Jonny McConomy | 18A218a20040 | Carn wheelers | IRL19800628 | |
| 23 | Johnny Taylor | 18A118a1 0042 | Carn wheelers | Irl19791127 | |
| 24 | Aaron Wade | 18JR0002 | Cycling Ireland | 12345678911 | Young Rider |
| 25 | Shay Donley | 18JR0144 | Cycling Ireland | 12345678912 | Young Rider |
| 26 | Conor Gallagher | 18JR0129 | Cycling Ireland | 12345678913 | Young Rider |
| 27 | Conor Halvey | 18JR0042 | Cycling Ireland | 12345678914 | Young Rider |
| 28 | Archie Ryan | 18JR0068 | Cycling Ireland | 12345678915 | Young Rider |
| 29 | Mark McClure | 18A10091 | Donegal Bay | irl19840317 | |
| 30 | Aaron McBride | 18A10149 | Donegal Bay | IRL19950505 | |
| 31 | Caolem McCarter | 18A30392 | Donegal Bay | irl19990416 | Young Rider |
| 32 | Darragh McCarter | 18A10062 | Donegal Bay | irl19850923 | |
| 33 | Keelan Carberry | 18A30143 | Donegal Bay | IRL19990914 | Young Rider |
| 34 | Aaron Watson | 18JR0008 | Dromara Cycling Club | irl2000625 | Young Rider |
| 35 | Gavin Magowan | 18A20259 | Dromara Cycling Club | irl19700810 | |
| 36 | Jack Ferguson | 18A30214 | Dromara Cycling Club | irl19991112 | Young Rider |
| 37 | Nathan Mullan | 18A10094 | Dromara Cycling Club | irl19931108 | |
| 38 | Stephen Irvine | 18A20282 | Dromara Cycling Club | GBR19820930 | |
| 39 | Cathal Dillane | 18A218A20090 (M40) | Gerry McVeigh Cars | IRL19720722 | |
| 40 | Gerard Forde | 18A218A20079 | Gerry McVeigh Cars | IRL19910628 | |
| 41 | Tom Regan | 18A218A20164 | Gerry McVeigh Cars | IRL19830207 | |
| 42 | Dean Burnside | 18A20181 | Island Wheelers | GBR19851021 | |
| 43 | Conor Devlin | 18A20242 | Island Wheelers | IRL19980623 | Young Rider |
| 44 | John Scott | 18A20193 | Island Wheelers | IRL19770114 | |
| 45 | Martyn Graham | 18A20021 | Island Wheelers | IRL19710319 | |
| 46 | Matthew McAllister | 18A20242 | Island Wheelers | IRL19990309 | Young Rider |
| 47 | Ethan Downey | 18A20053 | KD Gas / ClannEireann | 18A20053 | Young Rider |
| 48 | Thomas Martin | 18A10210 | KD Gas / ClannEireann | 18A10210 | |
| 49 | Liam Dolan | 18A10000 | KD Gas / ClannEireann | to follow Applied for on Jan 21st. | |
| 50 | Zeb Kyffin | 18A10000 | KD Gas / ClannEireann | UCI0001 | |
| 51 | Alan Bingham | 18A10009 | Newry Wheelers | ||
| 52 | Gareth O’Neill | 18A20189 | Newry Wheelers | 19960622 | Young Rider |
| 53 | Des Woods | 18A10006 | Newry Wheelers | Irl 19661011 | |
| 54 | Mark McKinley | 18A10078 | Newry Wheelers | 19870715 | |
| 55 | Sean Featherstone | 18A20288 | Newry Wheelers | 19810803 | |
| 56 | Andrew Chivers | 18A10050 | North Down CC | IRL19970425 | Young Rider |
| 57 | Javan Nulty | 18A10159 | North Down CC | IRL19930323 | |
| 58 | Keith Phillips | 18A10018 | North Down CC | IRL19860414 | |
| 59 | Stuart Henry | 18A20262 | North Down CC | IRL19910207 | |
| 60 | Timmy Burns | 18A10186 | North Down CC | IRL19801186 | |
| 61 | Gary Donaldson | 18A10116 | Omagh Wheelers | IRL19951124 | |
| 62 | Gary Jeffers | 18A202222 | Omagh Wheelers | IRL19890810 | |
| 63 | Aaron Wiley | 18JR0079 | Omagh Wheelers | IRL20000714 | Young Rider |
| 64 | Davy McFall | 18A10087 | Omagh Wheelers | IRL19910319 | |
| 65 | Michael McGlynn | 18JR0053 | Omagh Wheelers | IRL20001205 | Young Rider |
| 66 | Matt McLaughlin | 18A30648 | Phoenix CC | ||
| 67 | Donal Shearer | 18A312345 | Phoenix CC | IRL19990612 | Young Rider |
| 68 | Jody Wright | 18A112345 | Phoenix CC | 123 | |
| 69 | Ciaran McVeigh | 18A112345 | Phoenix CC | 123 | |
| 70 | Niall O’Gorman | 18A212345 | Phoenix CC | 123 | |
| 71 | Niall Morris | 18A212345 | Phoenix CC | 123 | |
| 72 | Jack Stanton | 00001 | Pro Vision Race Team | UCI1 | |
| 73 | Alex Simmons | 450521 | Pro Vision Race Team | 10018468982 | |
| 74 | Sam Beeston | 1252585 | Pro Vision Race Team | GBR20000404 | Young Rider |
| 75 | Ben Joughin | 417817 | Pro Vision Race Team | 10015820377 | |
| 76 | John Bourne | 1243844 | Pro Vision Race Team | 10018864662 | |
| 77 | Charlie Passfield | 1014430 | Spirit Tifosi RT | GBR10019268527 | |
| 78 | Ed Clemens | 468961 | Spirit Tifosi RT | 10013823793 | |
| 79 | Jordan Peacock | 431834 | Spirit Tifosi RT | 10014766111 | |
| 80 | Marcus Burnett | 460208 | Spirit Tifosi RT | GBR10014813294 | |
| 81 | Rupert Graham | 1116908 | Spirit Tifosi RT | 10052101007 | |
| 82 | Barry Hughes | 18A218 A2 0043 (M40) | Stamullen Road Club | IRL19731005 | |
| 83 | Niall Craven | 18A118 A1 0027 | Stamullen Road Club | IRL 19750514 | |
| 84 | Aureliusz Klus | 18A118 A1 0166 | Stamullen Road Club | POL 19850121 | |
| 85 | Cian Delaney | 18A118 A1 0095 | Stamullen Road Club | IRL19820826 | |
| 86 | Colin Robinson | 18A118A10213 | Stamullen Road Club | 10011728391 | |
| 87 | Sean Landers | 18A318 A3 0282 | Stamullen Road Club | IRL19980815 | Young Rider |
| 88 | Angus Fyffe | 18A10093 | Team Caldwell Cycles | IRL19950121 | |
| 89 | Adam Armstrong | 18A10054 | Team Caldwell Cycles | IRL19870504 | |
| 90 | Calvin Moore | 18A10205 | Team Caldwell Cycles | IRL19980401 | Young Rider |
| 91 | Craig McAuley | 18A10168 | Team Caldwell Cycles | IRL19960924 | Young Rider |
| 92 | Darnell Moore | 18A10034 | Team Caldwell Cycles | IRL19960827 | Young Rider |
| 93 | Andrew McCullough | 18A10016 | Team Madigan | GBR19900403 | |
| 94 | Gary Walker | 18A20055 | Team Madigan | GBR19820510 | |
| 95 | Gary McCullough | 18A20235 | Team Madigan | IRL19710210 | |
| 96 | Richard Maybin | 18A10055 | Team Madigan | GBR19870421 | |
| 97 | Michael Boal | 18A20146 | Team Madigan | GBR19950224 | |
| 98 | Gareth Mccullough | 18A10226 | Team Sportactive Racing | ||
| 99 | Toni Ballesterllobera | 43189719 | Team Sportactive Racing | 10039861529 | |
| 100 | Christopher Birney | 18A118A10141 | Team Sportactive Racing | IRL19920615 | |
| 101 | Paul Vaughan | 18A218A20122 | Team Sportactive Racing | IRL19830112 | |
| 102 | Peter Hawkins | 18A3941550 | Termon Wheelers | IRL19851216 | |
| 103 | Ciaran Donnelly | 18A20110 | Termon Wheelers | IRL19780304 | |
| 104 | Martin Conway | 18A30227 | Termon Wheelers | IRL19860712 | |
| 105 | Michael O’Kane | 18A30161 | Termon Wheelers | IRL19681121 | |
| 106 | Stephen Daly | 18A20080 | Termon Wheelers | irl19740219 | |
| 107 | Brandon Douglas | 18A20013 | West Down Wheelers | 18A30013 | Young Rider |
| 108 | Paul Wilkinson | 18A10124 | West Down Wheelers | 18A10124 | |
| 109 | Ian Weir | 18A30203 | West Down Wheelers | 18A30203 | |
| 110 | Adam Ward | 18JR0093 | Powerhouse Sport | IRL20000902 | Young Rider |
| 111 | Brendan Flannangan | 18JR0092 | Powerhouse Sport | IRL20000615 | Young Rider |
| 112 | Cathir Doyle | 18JR0094 | Powerhouse Sport | IRL20010830 | Young Rider |
| 113 | Lindsay Watson | 18A10001 | Powerhouse Sport |
There are many favourites this year based on current form and no doubt there will be many more contenders once the dust has settled on the first stage. Previous champion, Ed Clemens from the ever-present Spirit Tifosi RT will be hard to oust but there are a number of others who will attempt to lay claim to the title. Watch this space for rider previews.
