Chase The Sun

Saturday, 20th June 2026

ireland – Cycling Uk entries

Sweeping coastal cliffs, mythical forests, loughs and ancient cairns, experience the spectacle of the emerald isle…

LIMITED DISCOUNTED ENTRIES AVAILABLE FOR CYCLING UK FUNDRAISERS : SEE BELOW > >

Cycling UK Rider Plus+

Fundraising pledge for a discounted entry price

Ride Plus+ registration inc Meals, Jersey / Gilet, Bag service, minimum fundraising required.

CYCLING UK FUNDRAISER PLACES – SAVE £80

£89 £169

+ £6.71 booking fees

Includes (same as Ride Plus+):

  • Everything from Just Ride entry – plus…
  • Official CTS rider Jersey or Gilet (your choice)
  • Lunch hot meal en-route
  • Celebration dinner at the finish line
  • Baggage transfer service
  • Cycling UK fundraising advice & support
  • Minimum fundraising pledge of £300

Please note Chase The Sun Ireland registrations are completed via our third party booking system, with payment collected through Stripe payments, both services attract additional booking and payment fees as noted against the pricing listed. Cancellations and refunds, may be available for a limited period, subject to separate admin fee, please view our refunds and cancellation policy here

BOOK YOUR SEAT – Return Travel service on Sunday from Enniscrone > Belfast is available now – MORE DETAILS

What’s Included – RidePlus+ package registration

Rideplus Image Kitmontage
Chase the Sun Jersey / Gilet

Lightweight summer jersey, or windproof outer-layer Gilet? RidePlus+ entry includes your choice of these exclusive limited edition Chase The Sun rider kit items. Bespoke premium kit from supplier Stolen Goat, tailored for long-distance rides. Available in a full range of both men’s and women’s sizes. View Jerseys / Gilets

Rideplus Image Baggage
Baggage Transfer

Helping you travel light on the road – RidePlus+ entry includes complimentary Bag transfer for your non-riding overnight items in a (small) rucksack. Drop off your bag at the official BagVan at the start-line pre-sunrise, and it will be waiting for you to collect again on your arrival at the finish-line venue HQ.

Rideplus Image Hotfood
Rider’s Meals

Meeting and eating with fellow riders is part of an enjoyable Chase The Sun adventure. RidePlus+ entry package includes a lunch meal en-route at the designated lunch stop. As well as a hearty hot-meal awaiting your arrival at the finish line, where you can relax and recover as you celebrate the sunset.

04:46

Sunrise Start

22:13

sunset Finish

3100m

Elevation

209

Miles

The Route

Our most spectacular route, to Chase The Sun from sunrise on the Irish Sea at the historic Titanic docks of Belfast, up the dramatic coastal road and the Antrim Glens, heading inland to traverse forests, mountains, and loughs. Riders will discover many of the mythical landscapes and landmarks of the ’emerald isle’. The Chase The Sun Ireland coast to coast route crosses the border of Northern and Republic of Ireland and finishes at sunset along the wild Atlantic way beaches at Enniscrone.

Chase The Sun Ireland detailed route map from Belfast to Enniscrone. Ireland cycling challenge.
Final detailed route maps and timing schedules will be released to all registered riders via a download link in the spring—for now, the route overview graphic provides the vital statistics.
Screenshot
Route Start

Belfast, Titanic Quarter BT3 9EP (Northern Ireland)
04:46 Sunrise at Titanic Belfast Plaza, Belfast Docks.

Start your Chase The Sun Ireland journey with a unique piece of history, included in our All-In packages is convenient hotel accommodation at the Premier Inn within the heart of the Titanic Quarter.

Chase The Sun Ireland route finish at Ocean Sands Hotel, Enniscrone.
Route Finish

Enniscrone Bay, F26 Y3Y9 (Republic of Ireland)
22:13 Sunset at Ocean Sands Hotel, Enniscrone.

Soak up the sunset views over the Atlantic beaches with a celebration dinner, drinks and overnight stay in 4-star comfort at Ocean Sands Hotel included within our All-In packages.

Book Return Travel ON SUNDAY

Logistics Returntravel V1

Sunday return coach from finish locations

We can now offer you the optional extra of bike and personal transport services returning from the ride finish locations. A coach and dedicated bike transport trailer will ensure your return travel after the event day is convenient and effortless.

Departing on Sunday morning from the Finish location (or nearby hotel), tarvel back to the Start location.

PRICES FROM £109.95 PER PERSON & BIKE (early booking)

To purchase (event participants only) – Use your ‘ MANAGE MY BOOKING ‘ link provided within your entry booking confirmation email & select ADD A PRODUCT to select the coach return on Sunday.

Rider Information

In principle, riders should plan to ride un-supported, this is part of the challenge! Carry all the essentials for safety, sustenance, repair and navigation with you. The routes are not signed or way-marked, navigation is a key test for a successful Chase the Sun. Detailed route maps, timings and guidance will be issued to riders around a month prior to the event, plus downloadable GPX route files.

Training & Preparation

We support you every step of the way! Training and Preparation are essential for success so we offer registered riders a range of expert advice in the preceeding months pre-ride. Also check out our Training & Advice page for tips on planning your ride and our preparation checklist.

Support volunteers

There will be no official ‘broom wagon’ or en-route support this cycling challenge. So although not at all essential, it is permitted for non-riding family and friends to join in the weekend epic adventure. You can drive (not along the route!) to certain mapped locations to meet riders and provide encouragement and supplies if required. Please help all riders where you can, it’s in the spirit of the ride.

ANY QUESTIONS?

Please first check out the FAQ’s section below… or if requiring other inforomation, please email us below…

Email US A QUESTION …

Itinerary

Travel to Belfast

It is recommended that you make early travel arrangements so that you arrive at your accommodation in the late afternoon/evening allowing time to prep bikes, attend the ride HQ route briefing (8pm) and eat a big dinner – all before an early night to bed!

Accommodation
We have conveniently located hotel rooms near the start ride HQ included in our All-In packages but you can also choose to book your own nearby.

Briefing and Pre-ride Dinner

18:00 Your pre-booked meal (All-In riders only) is available from 6pm at the ride HQ, in Belfast Titanic Quarter Docks.

20:00 All Riders – At ride HQ there will be a short informal rider’s briefing from the Chase The Sun organisers to answer any questions and ensure the ride gets underway smoothly at sunrise.

Attendance at the briefing is recommended even if you are not staying or eating at the ride HQ, as it is a great opportunity to meet with your fellow riders and organise groups for the ride start the following morning.

Ride Day

04:15 Bag Van opens for booked rider’s luggage.

04:30 Riders assemble at the Start line. All riders must SIGN-ON with stewards.

04:46 Official Sunrise time, Riders Depart!

05:00 Any support vehicles to leave after riders have cleared.

Mid-day (approx) Riders must stop and SIGN-IN at the designated lunch venue, food and supplies available to purchase (or inc within RidePlus+ & All-In registrations).

19-23:00 Riders SIGN-IN and gather at the Finish line venue HQ. Drinks and hot food are available throughout the evening (inc with RidePlus+ / All-In packages). So please stick around to cheer and celebrate as your fellow riders come in around sunset. Bag Van will be available for luggage collection at the finish line venue.

22:13 Official Sunset time. Cheer the final coast to coast riders reaching the last ray of sunset, and celebrate the longest day on two wheels, did you make it this year?

Return travel from Enniscrone

Riders are to arrange their own travel arrangements homewards. Those with All-Inclusive packages can enjoy a well-earned late breakfast on Sunday morning.

This year we are providing a person & bike transfer via coach departing Sunday morning Taking you from Enniscrone back to Belfast Docks start carpark. This must be booked in advance, for more information see details here.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s a ride, not a race.
It’s a physical, mental and navigational challenge.
Chase the Sun Ireland is an annual ride from East to West coast on the longest Saturday of the year. It’s a ride of over 200 miles. This coast to coast challenge is tough but achievable for an average committed cyclist—if they have put in the training! The objective is to get to the coastal finish before the sun sets.

Your participation in these Chase The Sun events is based on the condition of you accepting responsibility for your own safety and should you have a mechanical issue that can’t be resolved, your own recovery.

We always run Chase the Sun on the longest Saturday of the year, mid-summer weekend in June. We start at Sunrise, (generally around 04:40ish) and aim to finish by Sunset, (around 22:00ish)… times vary slightly with location.

We start at the Belfast Titanic Docks, on the Slipways Plaza behind the Museum, Belfast BT3 9EP. There will be organisers there to assist you on the day.

Riders should arrive at the startline well before sunset, to fulfil the event SIGN-ON before you can depart on your ride.

Yes. There is a .gpx file for downloading to your bike computer and there are fully detailed printable map sheets with all stops, timings, facilities marked on route, but there are no route signs. This is not just a physical and mental challenge, it’s a navigational one, too!

You will only find out by trying. Chase The Sun Ireland is an achieveable challenge for any determined rider. Most people do make it for sunset. Some people make it—but after the sun has set. Some people don’t make it, but have a great longest day’s ride. All have an extraordinary adventure! Put the miles in and go for it—just do your preparation first!

We have had all sorts of riders, from commuters to elite athletes, complete Chase the Sun on all sorts of bikes, Fixies, 29er MTB’s, Tandem and a Fat Bike.

Theres no competitive element, other than your own personal challenge to Chase the Sun, so if you wish you can take on the longest day upon your E-Bike.

The adventure is in the journey, whether or not you achieve the satisfaction of seeing the sunset. It will be memorable either way!

One suggestion is to join a local cycling group. Most of them will have a group that will suit your speed. Doing this will almost certainly help your group riding skills and build your confidence.

If you don’t fancy it, don’t worry, there are plenty of people riding Chase the Sun Ireland solo—you are bound to strike up a conversation with plenty of other riders—it helps the miles go by, no one rides alone at our event!

If you do find yourself riding in a group, just please be aware, and courteous and communicate with other riders around you.

We have selected a route of the best cycling roads and created an experience full of stunning views and vistas for you, a coast to coast challenge that will inspire you when pedalling the longest day.

We seek the quieter backroads and lanes wherever possible, trying to minimise the time spent negotiating traffic. Of course however, this is double-century ride, and an epic journey from coast to coast, so there is a variety of roads, towns, cities and villages to pass through, with some busier stretches of road where extra care and attention should be required.

No. You can ride anything you want but we do recommend that you have it serviced and that its well-maintained before you start. It’s a tough event, bad maintenance can make it tougher.

It’s an independent challenge, so it’s up to you to get sorted. Obviously, as for every ride, you should carry a spare inner-tube and the tools to repair a puncture. For more complex problems, there will likely be either a helpful passing rider that will assist, or you can see if you can get a taxi or supporters lift to the next bike shop on the route. They will do their best to get you running again and get you on your way. Chase The Sun does have professional mechanics to assist stationed at the designated lunch stop.

That’s up to you. Belfast and the Titanic Quarter docks area around the start location is well served by public transport links. Some riders ride to the event. Some riders drive down with a loved one/friend who will be their support team for the ride longest day.

We offer a designated official Bag Transfer service to transport your (small) bag from start to finish, ensuring it is there waiting for you on your arrival at the finish line. This service is included for you within some registration packages. Subject to capacity, it may also be available to pre book separately. Refer to our travel logistics services.

Note: All baggage is deposited at owners risk. No responsibility for loss or damage is accepted.

This is up to you, we offer convenient hotel accommodation located at the start-line for maximum comfort and convenience included in our All-In packages but you can also choose to book your own. There are literally dozens of places to stay around Belfast centre.

This is up to you, we offer premium 4-star hotel accommodation located at the finish-line where you can relax, eat and drink on arrival for maximum comfort and convenience included in our All-In packages but you can also choose to book your own.

There are other hotels and number of local B&B’s nearby. If you have the time, spend an extra night in the town to relax and sightsee along the wild Atlantic coast, it makes the cyclists more welcome and that in return helps the ride as a whole.

We now offer a range of registration options to suit different rider’s budgets. All focus on providing great value and services. Chase the Sun is a small independent organisation, supported by partners, donations and by your participation as riders. Many volunteers work hard to produce these epic events for your enjoyment and inspiration to ride.

Click here to see our range of Registration Options including our ‘All-In accommodation packages’ where we organise everything for you! Check them out!

The Chase The Sun Ireland finish is over 200+ miles/330km from the start, The Ocean Sands Hotel, with a restaurant & bar terrace overlooking the sunset of the atlantic beach at Enniscrone, co. Sligo, Enniscrone F26 Y3Y9, Ireland.

Coast to coast riders must SIGN-IN with finishline staff to confirm have finished either before or after sunset.

Yes, once you have registered to ride you will then in future be emailed a link (closer to the date of the ride) to be able to access all the finalised downloadable content for the ride. This is usually released in the late spring. This will be issued along with a detail map and timings guide book also.

That’s entirely up to you. Good advice is to make sure that between 2 or 3 weeks before you have ridden at least 2/3rds of the total distance, (130 miles). The adrenaline on the day should help you ride the rest of the way. There is further advice about training here:

TRAINING ADVICE

The honest answer is it is hilly in places, yes. It’s all part of the challenge. The route has been planned to take in the best cycling roads, with the dramatic views too, so where there are hills these are worth it! Remember, what goes up, then comes down again! There is plenty of respite between hills, and places to stop for a breather along the way.

There is only one ‘official’ stop, that’s at the halfway point, riders must again SIGN-IN with event staff at this mandatory checkpoint. The lunch stop location will be confirmed in the issue of the route book guide a few weeks before the event. location in or around Gortin, nr Omagh.

This is the official Lunch stop, where you will also be able to make use of the cafe to grab some lunch as the friendly team opens up the kitchen with a special quick grab & eat menu for riders on the day.

Yes and no. We do have designated arranged Breakfast and Lunch stops. But in principle Chase The Sun remains a ‘do it yourself’ adventure ride.

There are a mix of mapped local shops and stops along the way to provide you many options to feed and water yourself as you go. We do have a few great bike shops that will help you along the way, some of them with cakes and coffee, who will provide you with technical support too. There are several friendly local community halls and pubs that we like to support with our riders providing some business and meeting locals along the route, too.

You can arrange your own support from friends or family, (if you want/need it). If you are looking to collaborate with other riders, use the Facebook page to speak to other riders and arrange it between yourselves. But pre-arranged support is not essential – trust us, this event works on community spirit—it has encouraged fellow riders to befriend, support and help each other each other along the way to reach sunsets together for over 15 years!

We do have a organisers tail vehicle follwing the later riders, but this is not a transport vehicle, and is for safety and advice, not offering lifts. If you drop-out of the ride it is for you to find transport for your way back home, or onward to the finish location hotels.

Important: Please note that for all rider’s safety, any riders unofficial support vehicles must not drive along the route, and use alternative roads to reach mapped checkpoints.

YES! We require riders to come adequately and safely prepared for undertaking the event. It is dark in the lead-up to the start, lights are recommended for the early daybreak hours. Hopefully, you may not need them at the end as you hope to be arriving before sunset, however, it’s always best to carry a set just in case! Don’t forget that you are responsible for your own safety and welfare—we can just advise.

Again, that’s up to you. A few riders may head straight home from the finish. Most riders have booked a hotel for the night in or near Enniscrone and will enjoy a rest and breakfast to go home the following day.

Travel and bike transport support service
This year we are providing a return journey for person & bike transfer via coach from the finish at Enniscrone back to Belfast Titanic Docks location. This departs on Sunday morning. For more details of this service and pricing check out our travel logistics services.

Yes – Long term Parking at Belfast docks is available, subject to capacity, please ask at the event HQ on Friday evening for details. It will cover you from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, (and the return of the minibus – see above).

It’s a ride, not a race. So no one knows, and we don’t care. It’s not about speed, its about experience. Those riders and groups who only ‘just’ make it in time to see the sunset are the days biggest winners, who have the best memories to celebrate.

Everyone gets a record. If you get there before sunset, you will get your name on the list of achievers on the website. If you get there after sunset, you will get your name on the finishers list. If you don’t finish this time, you will get your endeavours recognised for valiant attempts. It’s about challenge, achievement and a sense of camaraderie, it’s not about racing.

RECORDS

Chase The Sun was originally an idea ridden by Olly Moore back in 2008. Olly still directs and organises the annual events, helped by various collaborators. Our ride location teams on the ground include reps and several dedicated volunteers. We are indebted to Phil Webb, Simon Steggles, Adam Cartwright, Richard Cartwright, and Ian Slack for all their enthusiasm and efforts over the years. All love cycling. All are inspired to help others Chase The Sun. Thankyou.

If you would like to volunteer to help with a Chase The Sun event or service, then please do get in touch by email at chasethesun.org@gmail.com

Yes and we encourage all those interested in the ride to like and share to help spread the word about CTS.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Please hashtag #ChaseTheSunCycle in all posts.

The more posts, Tweets, Images we get out there, the more people can find out about the ride, which means that even more people will get an opportunity to train, enjoy and achieve the Chase the Sun feeling.

Need to amend your 2026 registration?

To do so – You can use your unique link to ‘ MANAGE MY BOOKING ‘ which is provided within your original entry booking confirmation email.

Login to your account to:

  • Make changes to your registration details
  • Create or Join a Team of riders
  • Update your contact details
  • Add extra services to your booking

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