Ultra-Cycling Superstar Reist Heading to Ireland

The current leading light of women’s ultra marathon cycling, Nicole Reist has confirmed that she will compete in Ireland’s toughest sporting event, Race Around Ireland in August.

With her first visit to Ireland, the former world champion from Northern Switzerland is looking to add a Race Around Ireland title to the world titles she earned in 2007 and 2014.

Reist is the reigning champion of Race Across America. She also won the Swiss national championship and the Tortour Ultra Marathon bike race in Switzerland for the third year in succession in what was a hectic 2016 season.

This year the engineer from Winterhtur will be making her first trip to Race Around Ireland which gets under way from Co Meath on August 27th with 2,150km ahead of the riders in what is a gruelling non-stop event.

The winning competitors will be in the saddle for up to 22 hours a day for five days and Reist will be looking to finish her third major event in succession when she leaves the start line in Trim in August.

Unlike most other long distance cycling events there are no ‘stages’ with start and finish points each day. It is up to the competitors to decide when they need rest and it’s for that reason that ultra-distance bike racers have been branded by many as the toughest of all.

For Reist, her first visit to Ireland offers new challenges and experiences.

“I have never been in Ireland before and I am looking forward to the beautiful and diversified landscape,” said Nicole. “In addition, a special challenge will be the left hand traffic.

“With RAI I can hopefully crown the season with success. If I can cross the finish line in Ireland it will be history in the making since no woman before was in a position to finish the three championships in a row.”

Reist will be supported by a crew of eight in her bid for another major championship success this year. Look out for a full interview with Nicole on racearoundireland.com soon.