Stars Confirmed For Sky Ride Etape Hibernia

The announcement comes less than a fortnight after professional Italian riders and Team Sky members Dario Cioni and Davide Vigano were confirmed as participants, which is expected to attract an estimated 2000 cyclists in the first year

The event is being marketed nationally and internationally, and will attract everyone from novice cyclists up for a challenge to keen club riders eager to cycle on traffic free roads. The 82-mile cycle will commence and finish in Ennis, as well as travel through Ruan, Corofin, Kilnaboy, Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Lahinch, Spanish Point, Connolly and Kilmaley.

West Bromwich native Denise Lewis, whose participation in the event is being sponsored by Adidas, won the gold medal in the heptathlon for Britain at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Speaking about her involvement in Etape Hibernia, Ms. Richards said: "I am looking forward to travelling to County Clare and taking part in what will be an enjoyable and challenging event. I am especially excited about cycling on closed roads around some of Ireland’s most famous landmarks such as the Burren and Cliffs of Moher".

PJ Gallagher has become one of Ireland’s best-loved comedians following the huge success of his hit TV show Naked Camera. The graduate of the Gaiety School of Acting is a Vicar Street regular and has appeared at the Cat Laughs festival in Kilkenny. He is currently on a nationwide comedy tour of venues across Ireland.

Speaking about his participation in Etape Hibernia, Mr. Gallagher stated: "I cannot wait to take part in the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia in County Clare. I participated in a training ride on the route in June and it is a superb, featuring some of the best scenery Ireland has to offer. What’s more it will be on closed roads, this is a first for me and I am pretty excited about taking on the challenge. It is an achievable distance for everyone, all it takes is a little bit of preparation, hopefully I will do enough to get a good time!".

Sky, the UK and Ireland’s leading entertainment company behind the Sky Ride series of events, is the title sponsor of The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia.

The event is being organised by IMG, in partnership with Sky, Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau and Clare County Council.

Jo Dytch of IMG said: "We are delighted to have so many high profile names taking part in the first Etape Hibernia. The event appeals to cyclists of all abilities as the distance is very achievable with a little training, for the keener riders, the opportunity to cycle on closed roads holds an irresistible allure. The chance to be on the start line with some of the world’s greatest athletes is one not to be missed. We are expecting a great turn out in County Clare on the event weekend".

Meanwhile, Etape Hibernia will raise much needed funds for Sky Rainforest Rescue, a Sky and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) project to help save one billion trees in the Amazon Rainforest.

Monica Dolan, from WWF said: "While you are cycling along the beautiful Clare coast, you will also have the opportunity to raise money to help save one billion trees in the Amazon rainforest."

"By signing up to raise money for Sky Rainforest Rescue www.sky.com/rainforestrescue, you will be helping WWF and Sky protect an area of rainforest roughly the size of Belgium, protecting its wildlife as well as supporting the people who live there. It’s not too late, so sign up now!", Ms. Dolan added.

For further information visit www.etapehibernia.com.

-ENDS-

Notes To Editor:
- TV/Radio interviewees are available on request. Please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- English-born Dario Cioni, aged 35, recently finished fourth in the Tour Of Slovenia while 26-year old Davide Vigano had five top ten finishes during the 2009 Giro d'Italia.
- Why Étape Hibernia? 'Étape' is the name for a stage of a cycle race. Hibernia is the Classical Latin name for the island of Ireland
- For more information about Sky Ride visit: www.goskyride.com
- For more information on IMG mass participation events visit: www.challengerworld.com