All Women’s Team Complete Easter Flèche Audax Event 




An all-women's team have completed the unique Easter Flèche event which took place on Friday and Saturday April 7th and 8th. 


An Audax tradition, the event involves teams of three to five riders completing at least 360km in 24 hours without stopping for more than two hours – with the finishing point in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. 


As the only all-women's team out of five teams taking part, the team of Julie Rea (Phoenix Cycling), Beata Golzcak (Orwell Wheelers), Suzanne White (Sorrento CC), Valerie Plant (Orwell Wheelers) and Helen Kerrane (Audax Ireland) successfully finished the event on Saturday morning. 


The team rode 385km and finished the event with 15 minutes to spare.  


Four other teams also took part, with all teams surpassing the 360km minimum distance and all participating riders safely completing the event. Three of the five teams managed to cover over 400km during the duration of the event.  


Team member Helen Kerrane said:  

"This was my fifth Easter Fléche and my first on an all-woman team. I have to thank Cathy McCormack from Sorrento CC for getting the band together. She was due to take part on a tandem with Suzanne White but had to withdraw for personal reasons. It was Julie, Suzanne and Beata's first Easter Fléche and Valerie's second. It was also Beata's longest ever ride and first one right through the night."

"I picked the route and decided to avoid as many hills as possible and to do the last 40km from Athlone to Mullingar along the Greenway. We stopped in Rathangan, Carlow, Kilkenny, Cashel, Birr and Athlone.  A particular low point was arriving in Athlone at 05:50 after a cold couple of hours riding across the bogs to find that the McDonald's didn't start serving until 07:00! We waited outside with our noses pressed up against the glass like stray cats until they let us in."
"The ride itself was great, Julie made sure we did up and overs to take time into the headwind. We kept upright and motivated each other through the night. The team was fantastic for a group that did their first ride together. It was an honour and a pleasure to ride with them."

All teams rode through the night

For anyone who is thinking about doing an Audax event, team member Beata believes you should accept that there will be highs and lows, but it is all worth it in the end when you complete it.


Beata Golzcak said:

"When deciding to do Audax, try to have no expectations and accept there will be ups and downs. There might be times when, in your head, you are preparing an ad to sell your bike afterwards but this will pass and once the ride is completed you will be amazed of what your body and mind is capable of."

Suzanne White said:

“You don’t often get the chance to cycle as part of a team, so I jumped at this! Cathy Mc (Sorrento CC) assembled the group and guided the less experienced of us through our prep for a first Fleche (and for some, first cycle over 200km and through the night). Helen Kerrane did a brilliant job as ‘routemaster’, ensuring that during the night we had easy navigation, smooth roads and 24 hour garages to break up the time. Despite all preparing separately for the event, the team gelled really well."
"Each of us had a time during the 24 hours where we were finding it tough, but our team mates looked after us. As we were riding into dawn on Saturday morning, looking at the team ahead of me, I was struck by how focused and prepared we all were. Everyone arrived with bike, kit and themselves fully ready for this challenge - we had no mechanicals or other issues, and the whole thing ran smoothly. It was terrific to be a part of. It’s a great aspect to Audax, preparing and being able for anything the day throws at you! I would encourage others to try Audax – it’s such an enjoyable cycling discipline.”

Event Organiser Niall Diamond said:  

“We had five teams, totalling 20 riders this year. Several teams took the option of starting from Mullingar as well as finishing there, which avoids any logistical issues of getting home afterwards. Thankfully the weather was very nice on the day, although some riders did complain of a bit of headwind at times, and it got quite cold during the night. Everyone who started finished, and all were in good form after a long night. Several teams took the option of finishing along the "Rail Trail" giving a nice traffic-free finish into Mullingar on Easter Saturday morning.” 


More information on the event and its rules and regulations can be found here.