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Mount Leinster 793m
Highest mountain road in Ireland

The ascent on Ireland's highest road has two faces: the first is a relatively moderate climb to the Nine Stones pass, after which a brutally steep tarmac ramp piles up to a transmission mast on the summit of Mount Leinster. Here the interested cyclist overcomes around 350 metres in altitude in just 2.6 kilometres. This corresponds to the gradient of Oscheniksee and Monte Zoncolan, the two steepest tarmac climbs in the Alps. However, the latter are significantly longer and therefore even more challenging than this short section here on Mount Leinster.

Start: Bunclody 41m
Altitude gain: 822m
Distance: 15km
March 2025


From kilometre 12.5, the climb really gets down to business with peaks of up to 19%. Chain left and have fun!


We start in Bunclody. St Patrick's Day is in two days here - like everywhere else in Ireland.


We are obviously in the right place.


The summit of Mount Leinster is faintly visible at the very back - actually with a snow-powdered cap in the middle of March.


The weather is perfect for the first few kilometres on side roads with little traffic.


Here you should have turned left towards Nine Stones, as it says. I daydream and continue straight ahead.


And just a little further on, I suddenly find myself at the top of the Corrabut Gap pass. Wrong.


Briefly back on the right track. Wonderful view of the rest of the road. The Nine Stones pass is in the hollow at the back on the right.


The Nine Stones have been reached. If you look closely, you will recognise the nine stones (all only about 60 cm high) directly behind the handlebars and saddle.


This is where the gateway to hell opens. Strictly speaking, it is closed, but cyclists can (and are allowed to) pass it on the right.


Oops. Ahead is a 19% ramp for the first few hundred metres. Behind me, some older hikers are eye-ing me up. Now don't give up and keep going. This thing is rideable!


You quickly gain height and there are always impressive views back along the way.


And there are actually still remnants of snow here. The transmission mast, our destination for to-day, is always in view.


Photo breaks are very welcome to get your racing pulse back into the green zone.


Beautiful up here just before the summit


And then you're standing at the fence in front of the transmission mast - summitted!



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