Ben Healys 7th and Archie Ryans 21st in the mens road race at the UCI World Road Championships on Sunday were both the best placings by elite Irishmen in a Worlds since the days of Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche. Kelly was the last Irishman to win a medal at an elite Worlds bronze []The post Healy and Ryan both best Irish finishers at Worlds since Kelly-Roche era appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

Ben Healys 7th and Archie Ryans 21st in the mens road race at the UCI World Road Championships on Sunday were both the best placings by elite Irishmen in a Worlds since the days of Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche. Kelly was the last Irishman to win a medal at an elite Worlds bronze []The post Healy and Ryan both best Irish finishers at Worlds since Kelly-Roche era appeared first on Sticky Bottle.

UPDATED September 29, 2024BY Michael CooINTrans-Europa no comments The Spirits Of The Trans-Europa Cycling TourTo many of us, one of the best rewards after a long, challenging cycling stage is a cold beer. The riders on the 2025 Trans-Europa Cycling Tour will be happy to know that their route across Europe will take them through some serious beer drinking cultures. From Estonia, where beer has been brewed for over 1000 years, to Poland, Europes 3rd largest beer producer, to Gibraltar, with its fine British ales, the riders will never be lacking for a brewski after their ride.Not everyone, however, loves beer so we thought we would take a look at the options for a different post-ride beverage, something with a little more oomph! Here are our suggestions:EstoniaVana Tallinn Riders will warm up to this unique liqueur, created in 1960 by Ilse Maar, a legendary Estonian liqueur artist. It is a mix of rum, orange, lemon and aromatic spices, including cinnamon and anise. A perfect choice after a cool, rainy ride or on a sunny patio in old Tallinn. You can even visit the Liviko distillery in Tallinn for a tour!Fun Fact According to Food & Wine Magazine, this liqueur was used as currency under Soviet occupation in place of the ruble. Even today in post-Soviet countries, older people know it -Vana Tallinn is a kind of currency. For a bottle of Vana Tallinn, you can still get yourself help if you have a problem.LatviaCocktail: Black Night Dancer (Balsam & Coke)Balsam Herbal Bitter The first Balsams (herbal extracts) were brought to Europe by Marco Polo and slowly spread through Europe. This particular drink was created by an apothecary named Kunze in the 1700s and used by Catherine the Great to recover from an illness as she passed through Riga on her way back to Russia. Flavors include blackcurrant, cherry and brandy.Fun Fact The secret recipe is only known to the Headmaster and 2 apprentices and in 1939 the recipe was temporarily lost when German population left Latvia before Soviet occupation.LithuaniaMidus (Mead) The worlds oldest alcoholic beverage is made from grain, honey (up to 50%) and water and can be flavoured with thyme, lemon, cinnamon, cherries, linden blossoms, juniper berries and hops. Some meads should be served cold while others are best at room temperature. Riders will be happy to know that it also goes very well with sweet deserts!Fun Fact The ancient Lithuanian god for brewing mead was Ragutis or Rgutis.PolandVodka It is rumoured that vodka originated in Poland in the 8th century but was first mentioned in the Akta Grozkie, a deed document from 1405. Try the Bison grass version or the Goldwasser, which contains gold flakes and is produced in Gdask. Czowiek nie wielbd, pi musi! (Man is not a camel, he must drink!)Fun fact At a Polish wedding, the bride and groom are presented with 2 shot glasses. One has vodka, the other water. The bride chooses first and then whoever drinks the glass with vodka will be the leader in the marriage.SlovakiaJuniper berriesBorovika This is made from ripe juniper fruits (black but not red) and dates from the 15th century. It is similar to gin but much stronger tasting. During the Hapsburg monarchy it was exported on rafts down the Vah River to the Danube and on to the cities of Budapest and Vienna.Fun Fact Because of its distinctive juniper flavour, a night of too much Borovika can be referred to as revenge from the forest.HungaryPlinka This spirit originated in medieval Hungary and is traditionally made from mashed fruit like apricots, pears, and plums, sour cherries, apples, mulberries, and quince. There are very strict regulations regarding its authenticity, commonly referred to as the plinka law. Its alcoholic content can be up to a very strong 55% which I personally discovered, much to my regret the next day, on the 2023 Trans-Europa.Fun fact Budapest has a Plinka Museum where you can learn all about this local spirit.SloveniaSchnapps Known as Zganje in Slovenian, there are a number of versions like peach, lemon and blueberry but the local favourite is viljamoka, flavoured with the Williams pear. While you can get mass-produced bottles in the supermarkets, local bars pride themselves on stocking a variety of schnapps made nearby, likely in someones garage.Fun Fact Annual homemade schnapps competitions can involve tasting 25 entries or more! ItalyGrappa We all know how great Italian wine is but you should definitely try this local brandy, made from the skins, pulp, seeds and stems left over after pressing the grapes used to make wine. It is best enjoyed in stemmed nosing glasses and slightly chilled as a digestif after a meal.Fun fact Some critics consider grappa to be nothing more than a fancy version of moonshine.FranceChampagne When you want to celebrate something, you immediately think of champagne, so when the Trans-Europa riders arrive in France, they can bring out the flutes and raise a toast to their achievement. Started from vineyards planted by the Romans in the 5th century, it began as a still wine, the sparkling bubbles being added almost by mistake by the early winemakers including the Benedictine monk, Dom Prignon.Fun fact After the October Revolution in Russia in 1917, champagne was prohibited and a class system of alcoholic beverages was introducedhello, vodka!SpainSangria This drink doesnt have the same long history as say, vodka or mead, having just emerged in the late 18th century in the Andalusia region of Spain. It usually consists of a mixture of red wine, various chopped fruits and a splash brandy or triple sec and its popularity really took off after it was served at the Spanish pavilion at the 1964 Worlds Fair in New York City.Fun fact Sangria is believed to have derived its name from the Spanish word for blood sangre.GibraltarGin No alcoholic beverage is more representative of Britain and its overseas territories than gin. From the Gin Craze in the early 18th century in London where it was called Mothers ruin to the ubiquitous gin and tonics used in its tropical colonies to ward off malaria, gin is simply interwoven into British history.Fun fact Gibraltar is home to its very own craft gin distillery The Gibraltar Distillery Company.RELATEDTOURTrans-EuropaJoin us on this spectacular 2 1/2 month cycling adventure across Europe. The route passes through eleven countries, starting in Tallinn and finishing... 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Its just over 2km long, but Dublin Ports new Tolka Estuary Greenway is being talked about a lot, and some people are wondering how to get there. The main entrance to the greenway is via Eastpoint Business Park on Alfie Byrne Road between East Wall and Clontarf.Regardless of whether youre cycling or walking, youll go along Eastpoint Causeway and past the security hut into Eastpoint Business Park. Once past the security hut, people cycling will go straight on along the internal roads of the business park, and people walking turn left and use the old and narrow coastal path within the business park (which is not wide enough for cycling).Public Transport (mainly without a bike)Dublin Ports greenway is one of the best-connected greenways to public transport. The options include: Note: Only the train services carry full-sized bicycles; the bus services listed only carry covered folding bicycles).N4 orbital bus route: Goes from Blanchardstown to The Point Village and stops outside the Eastpoint Business Park. The route goes via Finglas, Glasnevin, DCU and Clontarf. Dart: Clontarf Road Dart station is around 10 minutes walk to the Eastpoint Causeway. When leaving the station, turn right and follow the bus-only route to the Alfie Byrne Road.NEW! N2 orbital bus route: The new N2 bus route started operating today from Heuston Station to Clontarf Road Station. It serves areas such as Stoneybatter, Blackhorse Avenue, Nephin Road, Broombridge, Ballyboggan Road, Old Finglas Road, Griffith Avenue, Marino/Fairview. Once at the Dart station, use the bus-only road to the Alfie Byrne Road. Same as from the Dart, its about a 10 minute walk to the Eastpoint Causeway.Luas Red line: Switch to the N4 Orbital at Spencer Dock (walk around the corner to New Wapping Street) or at The Point Village (North Wall Ave).Docklands Station (closed at weekends): Walk directly via East Wall or walk about 5 minutes to New Wapping Street and get on the N4 orbital bus.53 Ferryport bus route: This route, which starts at Talbot St, is not very frequent, but itll give you a unique starting point from the ferry port and walking back to that end of the greenway! The 53 also stops at West Road in East Wall, which is a short walk to the Eastpoint Causeway.151 bus route: 151 runs from Balgaddy Road in Lucan to East Road in East Wall, via Grange Castle, Clondalkin, Long Mile Road, Crumlin Road, Dolphins Barn, Patricks Cathedral, Eden Quay. From East Road, you can switch to N4 or walk to the It is possible to walk from East Wall to the greenway entrance on Bond Road, but this requires walking on the footpath across from the entrance to the Port Tunnel (part of the M50 motorway) and across the main vehicular entrance to Dublin Port. It is even more strongly recommended not to cycle this route to the greenway.By bikeIn addition to being well connected by public transport, the greenway is also relatively well connected to cycle routes, which are a mix of low-traffic or mostly segregated.It will also be much better connected when the Clontarf to City Centre Cycle route is finished and even more so when the Royal Canal Greenway is finished.S2S North, Dublin Bay cycle route: The S2S North starts at Sutten Cross entrance to Eastpoint Business Park is on the Alfie Byrne Road, which is on the southern end of the northern section of the Dublin Bay cycle route.Via Fairview Park: You can cycle along the short section of the River Tolka Greenway in the park to a new crossing of the Alfie Byrne Road and along the extended cycle path on that road to the Eastpoint Causeway.Via the Clontarf to City Centre route: Warning: This cycle route is under construction and is not fully open yet, so cycling in the bus lane for sections may be needed for now. Even on sections which are mostly finished, small sections may also be closed for localised snag works.Via the Royal Canal Greenway (Docklands to North Strand Road section): From the Docklands, you can connect to the Clontarf to City Centre route (see warning above) at North Strand Road and then onto the River Tolka Greenway in Fairview Park.Via the Grand Canal Cycleway: The Grand Canal route links to greenway via Grand Canal Quay and Grand Canal Square, over the Samuel Beckett Bridge and along the Royal Canal Greenway and onto the Clontarf Route and the Fairview Park route as above.Dart: Clontarf Road Dart Station is the nearest Dart station, but note that it can be tricky with bicycles as the station is elevated, and the lifts are often out-of-order. From Howth: With a bollard-protected cycle lane most of the way from Howth Dart station to the S2S North as above, you can make a longer cycle nearly all off-road.Via Griffith Ave: From the lightly segregated Griffith Ave route you can avoid the busy Malahide Roadby cycling via the quieter streets in Marino an then onto the Clontarf to City Centre route as far as the Alfie Byrne Road.MAIN IMAGE: Dublin Port, MAP: IrishCycle.com

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There are few industries in which women are treated equal to men when it comes to pay, respect and growth opportunities. Cycling is overwhelmingly not one of them. Here's one woman's account of why she's leaving the industry.