View source for Tour of Ireland

{{Short description|Cycling race}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox cycling race
| name          = Tour of Ireland
| image         =
| date          = September and October 1985–1992 <br /> August 2007, 2008
| region        = Ireland
| english       =
| localnames    = Nissan Classic (1985–1992)<br /> Tour of Ireland 2007–09
| nickname      = Nissan Classic (1985–1992)
| discipline    = Road race
| competition   = UCI Europe Tour
| type          = Stage race (2.1)
| organiser     = The Events Group / Shadetree Sports
| director      =
| first         = {{start date|1953}}
| number        = 35 (as of 2009)
| last          =
| firstwinner   =
| mostwins      = {{flagathlete|[[Sean Kelly (cyclist)|Sean Kelly]]|IRL}} (4 wins)
| mostrecent    = {{flagathlete|[[Russell Downing]]|GBR}}
}}

The '''Tour of Ireland''' ([[Irish language|Irish]]: Turas na hÉireann, known from 1985 to 1992 as the '''Nissan Classic''') was a [[road bicycle racing|bicycle stage race]] held in August, which ran for 35 editions over a 56-year period. Irish rider [[Sean Kelly (cyclist)|Seán Kelly]] recorded the most wins, four.

The first Tour of Ireland race debuted in 1953 and ran until 1957. It was revived in 1965 and ran until 1985. In 1985 the 5-day ''Nissan International Classic'' took over as the Tour of Ireland. This lasted for 8 years until 1992. The race returned 15 years later, in 2007, as the Tour of Ireland and was part of the [[UCI Europe Tour]].  The organisers confirmed on 1 June 2010 that the 2010 race would not take place due to a financial shortfall,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/471297/2010-tour-of-ireland-cancelled.html|title=2010 Tour of Ireland cancelled|date=2010-06-01|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media|first=Andrew|last=Canning|accessdate=2010-06-01|archive-date=4 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604022249/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/471297/2010-tour-of-ireland-cancelled.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and as of 2019, there is no further news of a revival.

==History==
===Origins, 1950s===
The original ''Tour of Ireland'' was a cycling stage race run in Ireland between 1953 and 1984, and organised by the internationally recognised governing body, Cumann Rothaíochta na hÉireann (CRE), later reformed as the [[Federation of Irish Cyclists]]. In 1953 the [[Irish Government]] initiated [[An Tóstal]], a cultural festival, and asked all Irish [[Sport governing body|sporting bodies]] to participate. As part of this the CRE ran a four-day Tour of Ireland. With sponsorship from An Tostal, Aspro and [[Hercules Cycle and Motor Company|Hercules cycles]], the event was known as the Tostal Tour and was a big success throughout most of the country, although it was said to have "had a hard time in the NCA heartlands of [[County Kerry|Kerry]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fbdinsuranceras.com/event/fbdras_2.shtml|title=The Beginnings Of The Rás|accessdate=31 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012070639/http://www.fbdinsuranceras.com/event/fbdras_2.shtml|archive-date=12 October 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> There is limited information about the race available on the internet and no book has been written about the event. The inaugural edition was a 4-day race won by Brian Haskell from John Perks and A Walker. [[Seamus Elliot]] who later won a stage and wore the yellow jersey in the [[1963 Tour de France]] finished tenth overall. Briton [[Brian Robinson (cyclist)|Brian Robinson]] who also won a stage in the [[1958 Tour de France|Tour de France]] finished fifth in this first edition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/7437.0.html |title=Inside Cycling with John Wilcockson: Tough guys |work=Velonews |accessdate=31 August 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225445/http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/7437.0.html |archivedate=26 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to Alf Buttler, an amateur cyclist during and after the second world war the leader's jersey was purple<ref>{{cite web|url=http://the.hubmind.net/index.php/main/alf_comments/tour_of_eire/ |title=Tour of Éire |publisher=hubmind.net |accessdate=31 August 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820223934/http://the.hubmind.net/index.php/main/alf_comments/tour_of_eire/ |archivedate=20 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the race continued but as a seven-day race the following year, 1954, beginning on Thursday 29 April. The 1954 race was covered by [[Jock Wadley|J B Wadley]] and photographer Bill Lovelace for The Bicycle magazine and a full report appeared in the 5 May issue. Bernard Pusey (England A team) won from Seamus Elliott (Ireland A team) and Tony Hoar (England B team). According to [http://www.braywheelers.com Bray Wheelers], an [[Ireland|Irish]] cycling club from [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]], [[Wicklow]], the event continued until 1957.

===First revival, 1960s===
The tour was revived in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.braywheelers.com/history.htm#THE%20TOUR%20OF%20IRELAND%20GLORY%20DAYS|title=Tour of Ireland glory days|publisher=Bray Wheelers|accessdate=31 August 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928062107/http://www.braywheelers.com/history.htm#THE%20TOUR%20OF%20IRELAND%20GLORY%20DAYS|archivedate=28 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> During the seventies the race was known as the ''[[Raleigh Bicycle Company|Raleigh]] [[Dunlop Rubber|Dunlop]] Tour of Ireland''.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/News2007/20070731_PCA_Ireland.asp 
 |title=PCA to ride Tour of Ireland 
 |publisher=British cycling.org.uk 
 |accessdate=31 August 2007 
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205153/http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/News2007/20070731_PCA_Ireland.asp 
 |archivedate=27 September 2007 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref> The event continued to 1984. Winners during this period include Bray Wheelers [[Peter_Doyle_(cyclist)|Peter Doyle]] (1968) and Paul Elliott (1970), Doug Dailey (1971, 1973), Liam Horner (1972), a double Olympian, [[Tony Lally]] (1974), a 1980 Olympian and the youngest ever winner at age 20, Pat McQuaid (1975, 1976; later UCI President), [[Ángel Arroyo]] (1977), runner up in [[1983 Tour de France]], John Shortt (1978) and Ron Hayman (1979) who was followed home by [[Phil Anderson (cyclist)|Phil Anderson]], Stephen Roche and Robert Miller in 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

===Nissan International Classic, 1985–1992===
The Nissan International Classic was then organised from 1985 until 1992 which it appears took over from the Tour of Ireland. The Nissan Classic was referred to as the Tour of Ireland by the famous [[Ireland|Irish]] [[road bicycle racer|cyclist]] [[Stephen Roche]] during the 1987 edition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loserdomzine.com/nissanclassic1987.htm|title=Loserdom's guide to the 1987 Nissan Classic|publisher=Loser Dom|accessdate=30 October 2007}}</ref>

The race was organised by the Events Group and was sponsored by [[Nissan]]; Alan Rushton was the race controller and future President of the UCI, [[Pat McQuaid]], was the race director. It was a hugely successful event that captured the spirit and imagination of the race going public who stood at the side of the road in vast numbers. The event occurred during the golden age of Irish cycling when [[Sean Kelly (cyclist)|Sean Kelly]] and [[Stephen Roche]] were at the height of their success in European cycling. Kelly dominated the Irish event by winning four <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1985&id=1087&nr=1  |title= Ronde van Ierland 1985 stage results and overall classification |publisher=Cyclebase |accessdate=9 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1986&id=1087&nr=1 |title= Ronde van Ierland 1986 stage results and overall classification |publisher=Cyclebase |accessdate=9 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1987&id=1087&nr=1 | title=Ronde van Ierland 1987 stage results and overall classification | publisher=Cyclebase | accessdate=9 July 2007 | archive-date=30 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185221/http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1987&id=1087&nr=1 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1991&id=1087&nr=1 | title=Ronde van Ierland 1991 stage results and overall classification | publisher=Cyclebase | accessdate=9 July 2007 | archive-date=28 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928040109/http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1991&id=1087&nr=1 | url-status=live }}</ref> of the eight races.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1988&id=1087&nr=1 | title=Ronde van Ierland 1988 stage results and overall classification | publisher=Cyclebase | accessdate=9 July 2007 | archive-date=28 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928035956/http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1988&id=1087&nr=1 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1989&id=1087&nr=1 |title= Ronde van Ierland 1989 stage results and overall classification |publisher=Cyclebase |accessdate=9 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1990&id=1087&nr=1 | title=Ronde van Ierland 1990 stage results and overall classification | publisher=Cyclebase | accessdate=9 July 2007 | archive-date=30 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185259/http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1990&id=1087&nr=1 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1992&id=1087&nr=1 | title=Ronde van Ierland 1992 stage results and overall classification | publisher=Cyclebase | accessdate=9 July 2007 | archive-date=30 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185234/http://www.cyclebase.nl/index.php?lang=en&news=en&pc=normal&page=results&db=m&yr=1992&id=1087&nr=1 | url-status=live }}</ref> Roche won two stages in the first edition and finished second in the 1987 edition while wearing the rainbow jersey of world champion but never won the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/12/31/spage_1.htm |title=Stephen Roche and Sean Kelly are names etched into the psyche of cycling aficionados. Michael Hearn and Brendan Mooney look back over their stunning careers |publisher=Irish Examiner |accessdate=9 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929152753/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/12/31/spage_1.htm |archivedate=29 September 2007 }}</ref> The event used the most famous 'wall' in Ireland – the steep ascent of St. Patricks Hill in [[Cork city]] as the finale of a stage in almost every edition of the event. Other areas that the event regularly visited included Kelly's hometown of [[Carrick-on-Suir]] in [[County Tipperary]], [[O'Connell Street, Limerick|O'Connell Street]] in [[Limerick]] and [[Eyre Square]] in [[Galway]]. The race used to finish on [[O'Connell Street]] in [[Dublin]] after doing many laps of a circuit in the city centre.

===Third revival, 2007–2009===
After a break of fifteen years, it was announced that the event was returning to Ireland in early 2007 and sponsored by [[Fáilte Ireland]] and called the ''Tour of Ireland''. This event was organised by the Events Group and Shadetree Sports and the route of the race took in many of the same areas that the Nissan Classic covered. Just like the 1987 edition of the Nissan Classic, the Tour of Ireland started from Kilkenny Castle. The first stage used St. Patricks Hill in Cork city in its finale.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/may07/may02news |date=2 May 2007 |title=Top level Pro racing returns to Ireland |work=Cycling News |accessdate=8 July 2007 |archive-date=15 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015134054/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/may07/may02news |url-status=live }}</ref> The five-day stage race concluded on 26 August and was won by [[Stijn Vandenbergh]] of Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tourofireland.ie/20070826_stage5.html |title=Marcato triumphs in Dublin finale |publisher=Tour of Ireland |accessdate=26 August 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929150352/http://www.tourofireland.ie/20070826_stage5.html |archivedate=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Lance Armstrong]] & [[Mark Cavendish]] took part in the [[2009 Tour of Ireland|2009]] edition, which was shortened to a 3-day event due to the economic downturn. 
<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.cyclingireland.ie/html/site/cyclingireland/story.jsp?id=1360 
 |title=ARMSTRONG AND CAVENDISH CONFIRMED FOR THREE DAY TOUR OF IRELAND 
 |publisher=Cycling Ireland 
}}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The organisers confirmed on 1 June 2010 that the 2010 race would not take place due to a financial shortfall, but that they hoped it will return in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling-roche-stunned-as-plug-pulled-on-tour-of-ireland-2202046.html|title=Roche stunned as plug pulled on Tour of Ireland|date=2010-06-01|work=[[Irish Independent]]|first=Gerard|last=Cromwell|accessdate=2010-06-01|archive-date=4 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604011629/http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling-roche-stunned-as-plug-pulled-on-tour-of-ireland-2202046.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was due to take place from 18 August to 22 August 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2010/0601/tourofireland.html|title=Tour cancelled due to lack of funds|date=2010-06-01|work=[[RTÉ Sport]]|publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]]|accessdate=2010-06-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604020917/http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2010/0601/tourofireland.html|archivedate=4 June 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Past winners==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Edition
! Year
! Winner
! Nationality
! Team
! KOM
! Points/Sprints
|-
|1|| 1953 || Brian Haskell || {{flagu|United Kingdom}} || London NCU || ||
|-
|2|| 1954 || Bernard Pusey || {{flagu|United Kingdom}} || England A || ||
|-
|3|| 1955 || Brian Haskell || {{flagu|United Kingdom}} || Yorkshire || ||
|-
|4|| 1956 || Jimmy Rae || {{flagu|United Kingdom}} || Scotland || ||
|-
|5|| 1965 || Brian Jolly|| {{flagu|United Kingdom}} || Kirkby CC, Liverpool || ||
|-
|6|| 1966 ||Roy Hempsall  ||  {{GBR }} ||   || ||Sheffield
|-
|7|| 1967 || Nigel Dean|| {{flagu|United Kingdom}} ||  || ||
|-
|8|| 1968 || Peter Doyle|| {{IRL}} || Bray Wheelers || ||
|-
|9|| 1969 || Morris Foster|| {{flagu|United Kingdom}} ||  || ||
|-
|10|| 1970 || Paul Elliot|| {{IRL}} || Bray Wheelers  || ||
|-
|11|| 1971 ||   ||    || ||
|-
|12|| 1972 || Liam Horner|| {{IRL}} || County Dublin Road Club || ||
|-
|13|| 1973 || [[Doug Dailey]] || {{flagu|United Kingdom}} ||  || ||
|-
|14|| 1974 || [[Tony Lally]] || {{IRL}} ||  || ||
|-
|15|| 1975 || [[Pat McQuaid]]|| {{IRL}} || Irish National Team || ||
|-
|16|| 1976 || [[Pat McQuaid]] '''(2)''' || {{IRL}} ||  || ||
|-
|17|| 1977 || [[Ángel Arroyo]] || {{flagu|Spain}} ||  || ||
|-
|18|| 1978 || John Shortt || {{IRL}} ||  || ||
|-
|19|| 1979 || [[Ron Hayman]]|| {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Archer Road Club]]  || ||
|-
|20|| 1980 || [[Arthur Cunningham (cyclist)|Arthur Cunningham]] || {{NIR}} || Northern CC || ||
|-
|21|| 1981 || David Grindley|| {{flagu|England}} ||LIVERPOOL CENTURY  || ||
|-
|22|| 1982 ||  [[Billy Kerr]] ||Northern Ireland  ||  || ||
|-
|23|| 1983 || Not held ||  ||  || ||
|-
|24|| 1984 || [[Bob Downs]] || {{flagu|United Kingdom}} ||  || ||
|-
|25|| 1985 || [[Sean Kelly (cyclist)|Sean Kelly]] || {{IRL}} || [[Skil–Sem (cycling team)|Skil Sem Kas Miko]] || ||
|-
|26|| 1986 || [[Sean Kelly (cyclist)|Sean Kelly]] '''(2)''' || {{IRL}} || [[Kas (cycling team)|Guinness-Kas Mavic]] || Teun van Vliet {{flagicon|NED}} ||  [[Malcolm Elliot]] {{flagicon|GBR}}
|-
|27|| 1987 || [[Sean Kelly (cyclist)|Sean Kelly]] '''(3)''' || {{IRL}} || [[Kas (cycling team)|Castrol Burnmah-Kas]] || ||
|-
|28|| 1988 || [[Rolf Gölz]]  || {{flagu|Germany}} || [[Superconfex–Yoko|Superconfex Yoko Opel]]  ||  [[Tom A Ward]] {{flagicon|GBR}}
|-
|29|| 1989 || [[Eric Vanderaerden]]  || {{flagu|Belgium}} || [[Panasonic–Isostar]] ||  [[Tom A Ward]] {{flagicon|GBR}}
|-
|30|| 1990 || [[Erik Breukink]]  || {{flagu|Netherlands}} || [[PDM (cycling team)|PDM-Ultima Concorde]] || ||
|-
|31|| 1991 || [[Sean Kelly (cyclist)|Sean Kelly]] '''(4)''' || {{IRL}} || [[PDM (cycling team)|PDM-Cidona]] || ||
|-
|32|| 1992 || [[Phil Anderson (cyclist)|Phil Anderson]]  || {{flagu|Australia}} || [[Motorola]] || [[Stephen Roche]] {{flagicon|IRL}} ||
|-
|33|| [[2007 Tour of Ireland|2007]] || [[Stijn Vandenbergh]]  || {{flagu|Belgium}} || {{UCI team code|COS|2007}} || Roger Beuchat {{flagicon|SWI}} || [[Matti Breschel]] {{flagicon|DEN}}
|-
|34|| [[2008 Tour of Ireland|2008]] || [[Marco Pinotti]] || {{flagu|Italy}} || {{UCI team code|THR|2008b}} || [[Matthew Wilson (cyclist)|Matt Wilson]] {{flagicon|AUS}} || [[Russell Downing]] {{flagicon|GBR}}
|-
|35|| [[2009 Tour of Ireland|2009]] || [[Russell Downing]] || {{flagu|United Kingdom}}  || [[CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta|Candi TV-Marshall's Pasta]] || [[Matthew Wilson (cyclist)|Matt Wilson]] {{flagicon|AUS}} || [[Russell Downing]] {{flagicon|GBR}}
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090503111810/http://www.tourofireland.ie/ Official Website of the Tour of Ireland]
* [http://www.loserdomzine.com/nissanclassic.htm Overview of the Nissan Classic and articles on each edition 1985–1992]
* [http://www.cyclingarchives.com/wedstrijdfiche.php?wedstrijdid=407 Tour of Ireland] at cyclingarchives.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tour Of Ireland}}
[[Category:Tour of Ireland| ]]
[[Category:UCI Europe Tour races]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1953]]
[[Category:1953 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Super Prestige Pernod races]]