Christie & Roche to ride Worlds TT; Brammeier, Bennett or Lavery for last road place, 10 officials to travel

By Brian Canty

Marcus Christie has been selected by Cycling Ireland to partner Ryan Mullen in the U23 time trial (TT) at the World Championships in Florence at the end of the month.

It has also emerged that Nicolas Roche will ride the elite men’s time TT at the championships. The final berth in the elite men’s road team is now between Philip Lavery, Sam Bennett and Matt Brammeier.

Conor McConvey and Ronan McLaughlin were in the running for the final place but based on a statement from Cycling Ireland this evening they now appear to have been ruled out.

Foyle CC rider, Marcs Christie’s slot on the team for the U23 TT comes at the expense of his main rival for the place, Conor Dunne.

All three riders were part of a strong Irish contingent that took part in last weekend’s Port Talbot TT in Wales.

Mullen had already been named on the Worlds team and Cycling Ireland had said it would watch Dunne and Christie closely in the Welsh TT. Christie finished third, with Dunne fifth, and so the former has taken the second of two berths in the U23 TT.

Cycling Ireland head coach, Brian Nugent said Christie is an inspiration following his comeback in the last year or two from serious injury, but he also had praise for Dunne.

“Marcus is one of the most talented guys we’d ever seen in the talent identification system but he’s been plagued by injuries. So it’s great to see him come back and back where he belongs.”

“It’s no fluke where he is, he’s a strong guy. He was over the moon when we told him because the last two months, it’s all he’s been thinking about; getting ready for the World Championships. This has been his target and he’s done the work, and gotten faster every week.”

“It’s inspirational looking at what he has had to do to come back to where he is now, there’s not much you can’t do if you put your mind to it and Marcus has shown that. He’s had a lot of setbacks but has kept on coming back.”

As for Dunne, Nugent said: “Conor has taken it very well, very maturely. He’s very disappointed but we let them know what we wanted and I was very honest with them, and they knew that.”

“But Conor is a credit to himself and he’s taken it very well and he’s going to refocus now and has a few races in October that he wants to use his form for. He’ll be back, don’t worry. He’s a professional. He’ll be back.”

Nugent said he’s excited about what Mullen – a man he described as a “machine” - and Christie can do.

“Marcus is flying and Ryan is Ryan. They are both pushing each other, they’re not going to be far away, they’re both capable of a top 10 ride with the way they’re going,” he said.

The U23 time trial is on Monday and those two will be the first Irish riders in action at this year’s championships.

Nugent will travel out with the duo and the support team on the Thursday before the event, with junior time trial representative Mark Downey joining them on the Saturday for his event the following Tuesday.

Nicolas Roche, who will ride the Elite TT on the Wednesday, will also travel there the weekend before the race.

While Cycling Ireland could have selected two riders for the elite men's TT, it has gone with just one meaning there is no place for National TT Champion Michael Hutchinson.

The logic for not filling the place is unclear, and with 10 officials traveling - some of them for 12 days - it does not appear cost is an issue.

Meanwhile, the fourth rider for the elite road race team will be named next Monday following a meeting of the three selectors.

“There’s no big conspiracy or anything like that, we’re just waiting to see,” said Nugent.

“The six lads know who they are and they’ve been informed and we’ll be making the announcement following a meeting on Monday,” said Nugent.

There will be no reserve riders travelling out. But in the event one is required, arrangements will be made for them to travel.

“There are good riders in every race,” said Nugent.

“The juniors are an excellent bunch. Ryan and Marcus are both phenomenally talented. In the (elite men’s) road race; the options are there, you know yourself, we have a team who can win and we’re planning for that.”

“We’ve a strong elite women’s team as well and they’ll be in good form after Rás na mBan so it’s very exciting and we hope the Irish public can get behind us because everyone knows what potential is there.”

The Championships run from September 22nd to 29th.