Date: Thu 09 Jun 2022

Kenmare Cyclist Fenton Curley completes the TransAtlantic Way Race on the West Coast of Ireland, finishing in Third Position on the Setanta Course.

This is the second year running that Fenton has taken part in a race along the Wild Atlantic Way on the West Coast of Ireland

Family, friends, and colleagues cheered on Fenton and other competitors as they embarked on #TransAtlantic Way Ultra Race #TAW22 which started from the piece Bridge in Derry City on Thursday morning June 9th at 5am and followed the Wild Atlantic Way around to Cork City.

This race is self-supported with no technical or personal backup, so all responsibility lied with the riders alone. Fenton is delighted to have completed the race as ‘third fastest finisher’ and first Irish rider in on the Setanta route in 5 days and 21 hours.

As a member of Kenmare Cycling Club and an avid cyclist, Fenton looked forward to this incredible adventure cycling challenge by training consistently and throughout the year worked to weekly schedules for strength and endurance. He was among sixty-one riders taking part in this year’s race and opted for the Setanta designated route of 1700km, which had twenty-nine riders on that route. The race had to be completed in full.

Fenton completed the Cu Chulainn route in the 2021 Race https://fcexports.co.uk/news/128589/Fenton-Curley-MD-of-FC-Group-Combats-Another-Challenging-Bike-Race/. His participation in the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge https://fcexports.co.uk/news/131002/Fenton-bags-a-first-in-Cat-for-TeamFCG-in-Dubai-at-the-Spinneys-Dubai-92-Cycle-Challenge-/ in February, where he achieved first in Cat, and the 3-day Cyprus Gran Fondo https://fcexports.co.uk/news/131360/FENTON-HAS-QUALIFIED-FOR-THE-UCI-GRAN-FONDO-WORLD-CHAMPIONSHIP-IN-TRENTO-1-5-SEPT-2022-/ in April, where he took another Podium with 3rd in Cat for the TT, helped get Fenton into good shape for this year’s Transatlantic Way Ultra Race.

Day One - 9th June 2022
Day One From start line punctures to exploding power meters and naughty Garmins, splendid work was seen from all riders in the day who kept calm dealing with mechanicals and pushed through the stunning scenery through Donegal towards check point one at Fanad Lighthouse.

By the end of Day One, Fenton had reached Gweedore and had cycled 258.41 km. And nearly 4000m of climbing. It was wonderful to see so many international and home-grown riders taking on the Wild Atlantic Way. The wind was extraordinarily strong, but spirits were equally high. MORE climbing, MORE adventures, and MORE weather tomorrow!

Day Two - 10th June 2022
The weather on Day Two was brutal with rain and cyclists chasing the wind! Riders were dotted along the West Coast, slipping in and out of wind, sun, and very heavy rain. Glengesh Pass, a stretch of very bendy road that connects Glencolmcille to Ardara, saw a 17% gradient and gale force winds and cyclists saw amazing scenes from the tip of the world—lovely, elevated views over Loughros Beg Bay.

Fenton managed to push against torrid weather and finished the day completing 266.62 km and 3,500m of climbing in Ballina.

Day Three - 11th June 2022
On Day Three - Fenton made it to Leenaun late at night after three huge days in the saddle. The weather was extremely challenging with horrendous storms and high winds during all the three days. Fenton was halfway round the route at the end of day three, finishing the TAW Day 3 on 255.7km in distance that day.

The weather was said to be looking better from Sunday onwards for TAW Day Four and Fenton looked forward to getting into Kerry and onto home turf!

Day Four - 12th June 2022
Fenton put in an epic day with a 320km push from Leenaun - Lahinch arriving late at night. He then got the first Ferry to Tarbert which bought him to his Home County of Kerry. He then had 604km to run to the finish in Cork City and was determined to push harder. He had the incentive of the second position rider with Neil Copeland only being 20km ahead of him and someone to chase.

Day Five - 13th June 2022
Many of the riders on this day had been battling mentally. The harsh weather had taken its toll, raising questions over scratching as many people did.

There were intermittent tracker transmission issues, but the problem was eventually fixed and friends, colleagues, and family, were able to track and cheer him on for the last leg of his journey.
Fenton kept the pedals turning and moving forward, no matter how slow or how bad the weather. He kept to the average 20km/h and pulled another 300km out of the bag from Lahinch – arriving at 10.45pm in Kenmare, which is his hometown.

Interestingly, although Kenmare is where Fenton lives, Competition Rules prohibited him from staying in his own home as all amenities had to be available to all competitors! So, for that night - “Home from Home” for Fenton and his Bike was at Brook Lane Hotel where Una and staff served him a Great Pint and Pasta, which set him up for his 4am start next morning. He had 310km left to the finish in Cork City the next day.

Day Six - 14th June - Final Day of TAW 22

Fenton left Kenmare at 4am and took on the journey over the Healy Pass onto Bantry and Sheep’s Head then onto Mizen battling a head wind most of the way. On the turn from Mizen he picked up the traditional Westerly and followed the coastline through Schull, Skibbereen, Union Hall and Glendore onto Clonakilty and Kinsale. The 25km from Kinsale to Cork City were brutal with some of the steepest gradients on the whole route finally making Cork city at 1am. 18 hours in the saddle 315km and 4,000m of climbing - what a great final day! Fenton never caught Neil who finished 2 hours ahead of him but a great battle over the final days and a fabulous ride by Neil Copeland. It was great to arrive at a fabulous reception as first Irish rider home along with a much-needed beer!

TransAtlantic Way had three of its fastest finishers now in Cork!!!

We were able to track Fenton's progress on TransAtlanticWay dot watchers and on his Facebook>> https:https://www.facebook.com/fenton.curley/ and on Instagram>> https://www.instagram.com/fenton_curley/
pages.

A Few quotes from Fenton on how he feels, having completed the race and on how difficult the race was both physically and mentally.

“Throughout the race—during the turbulent weather—I tapped into and held onto my mental focus, resilience and knew that I had to push the best that I can—comparable to my outlook in life—always to deliver"!

“There were times when I thought – Never Again, enough is enough - I have done both courses now and be happy with that!!! But No - I have to admit that I have already started planning my training strategy for the 2023 event and am very much looking forward to it already – hopefully without a raging storm in the Northwest. But even if there is a storm, living and cycling in Kerry has helped prepare me well for this, so, not a problem.”

“Having completed the race, I am now looking forward to the next challenge—upcoming races in Ghana and Italy and will hit the ground training after a short recovery”.

Excellent job by Kenmare Cycling Club's Fenton Curley who'd truly earned his finishers pint! Well done Fenton. Great achievement!

Thanks for the amazing support from everyone - all the messages helped a lot along the way. The end of a great journey and Fenton now looks forward to the next adventure!

Along with managing his successful businesses within the FC Group and property portfolios he is deeply passionate and actively involved in international and local cycling events. He has formed a strong cycling Team and Charity in Ghana #TeamFCG and supports them in training, mentorship, gear, and competitive races.