← All events
sport · Sunday 2 August 2026 · Various 
Leitrim Glens Sportive
At Leitrim Glens Cycling Club, Manorhamilton · Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
At Leitrim Glens Cycling Club, Manorhamilton · Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
The Leitrim Glens Sportive is a fully supported cycling event based in Manorhamilton that draws riders from across Ireland each August. Organised by Leitrim Glens Cycling Club, it is built around four distance options - 40 km, 100 km, 150 km, and a serious 200 km - so there is a genuine route for almost every level of cyclist, from someone doing their first big day out to a seasoned tourer who wants nine categorised climbs and a proper test of the legs. The setting is the real draw: north Leitrim’s roads are quiet, the glens are deep and green, and the hills come at you honestly.
All routes start and finish at the W8 Centre in Manorhamilton, with staggered start times across the morning. The 200 km heads off first at 9:00 am (entry €70), the 150 km at 9:15 am (€60), the 100 km at 10:00 am (€50), and the 40 km at 10:15 am (€40). The flat €20 entry in the listing is the early-bird or minimum rate - check leitrimsportive.com for the current price tier when booking.
The longer routes include some memorable climbs. Bencroy is a 12 km grind that tops out at 408 m; Glenaniff runs 2.9 km at an average of 7.8%; Tarmon stretches 7 km with several sharp ramps in the opening half. The roads pass through Glenade and Glenfarne, two of the county’s finest glacial valleys, with plenty of lakes and wide sky in between.
The event is properly supported: food stops with local treats, marshals on the road, and mechanical assistance for punctures or mechanicals along the way. The atmosphere at the finish is described as family-friendly, with music and food at the W8 Centre.
Manorhamilton sits in the centre of north Leitrim, about 26 km east of Sligo on the N16. From Dublin, take the N4 to Carrick-on-Shannon and then north via Drumshanbo; allow around two and a half hours. From Sligo town, the N16 is a straightforward 30-minute drive through the Dowanhill pass.
Bus Éireann route 458 connects Sligo to Manorhamilton roughly every two hours, making it a viable option if you are travelling without a car - though bringing a bike on the bus needs to be confirmed with Bus Éireann in advance. The town has street parking near the central crossroads and additional spaces around the W8 Centre itself; arrive early on event day to get a spot close to registration.
The town repays a short walk after the ride. Manorhamilton Castle, a 17th-century fortified house on Castle Street, is a striking ruin, and the Heritage Trail takes in the Famine Graveyard and several other stops. The Leitrim Sculpture Centre is worth a look if it has an open exhibition. There is more to see in Manorhamilton and across Co. Leitrim.
Heading to Leitrim Glens Cycling Club, Manorhamilton in Manorhamilton? Leitrim has plenty more to see. Read the Manorhamilton area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.