Mia Griffin has started a very significant chapter of Irish cycling history today; becoming the first female Irish cyclist to be unveiled as a World Tour rider. While the signing of other Irish women onto new teams will be confirmed in the days and weeks ahead, Griffin's World Tour place has been long confirmed and she was officially unveiled today as an Israel Premier Tech Roland rider.
Having just turned 24-years-old two days ago, Griffin's journey in cycling has unfolded rapidly. She was captain of the Kilkenny intermediate camogie team and living in the family home in Glenmore, south Kilkenny, as an 18-year-old when her mother spotted an advertisement for the Cycling Ireland talent transfer trials.
Griffin went along, generated enough watts to catch the eye and since then has become a regular in the Irish national team on the track; winning a World Cup, in team pursuit, in Russia in 2021 and also claiming bronze in the Europeans in 2021, again in team pursuit. She also has an individual pursuit medal in her palmares; bronze at the U23 Europeans in 2020.
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Her new team raced as Swiss Roland Cogeas Edelweiss in 2022 but the sponsors behind the men's World Tour team, Israel Premier Tech, will now play a much bigger part in the women's outfit going forward. And that has resulted in a change of name and title sponsors for Griffin's team, now Israel Premier Tech Roland.
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At the start of that 2020 season, just as the Irish rider set out to start racing on the roads in Europe, the pandemic broke out, derailing her plans. However, in 2021 and last year she rode for Illi Bikes/IBCT at Continental level and banked significant experience in major pro road races.
She teamed up especially well with Irish road race champion, and team mate, Alice Sharpe at Baloise Ladies Tour (2.1) last year, with the duo supporting each other in the sprints and taking several top 10 placings. Griffin was also 11th in SPAR Flanders Diamond Tour (1.1) last year and placed 2nd in the Irish road title race, behind Sharpe, in Kanturk.
Griffin's first big goal this year will be on the track, with the European Championships in Switzerland from February 8th to 12th. She will be part of the Ireland team pursuit line-up at those championships, which kick off the Olympic qualification process, with the team pursuiters hoping to get to the Paris Olympics in 2024.
