Cycling Ireland has reversed its decision not to send an Irish U23 team to Tour de l'Avenir this year, in a move that will be welcomed by our best U23 riders and Irish cycling fans.
While there has been no communication on the issue of team selection from Cycling Ireland, stickybottle understands a team is being sent to the race, dubbed the U23 Tour de France. The initial plan to run a limited programme of races this year - amid a financial crisis for Cycling Ireland - was met with disappointment when it emerged on stickybottle back in January.
The initial plan - which was communicated to riders at the start of this year - was to select U23 national teams for Rás Tailteann, the European Road Championships and the World Road Championships. Stickybottle broke that news in January, which you can read here.
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However, at that time U23 riders in contention for selection for the Irish U23 road team were also told there were still possibly some potential sources of revenue to be tapped by Cycling Ireland, which might improve the situation in the following months.
It is unclear how the Tour de l'Avenir team is now back in Cycling Ireland's plans, but it now seems certain a team is being sent to the race next month, some 12 months after Archie Ryan put up an incredible ride to 4th place, supported by his team mates.
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We have sought additional information from Cycling Ireland on the inclusion of a national team in the race this year and when a reply is forthcoming we will bring you news of that.
While Ryan was the star of the show last year, he has suffered injury since then and has recently made a return to training under the watchful eye of his Jumbo Visma Development team. It is unclear if he would ride Tour de l'Avenir, but as he is yet to race this season it seems unlikely.
However, with Darren Rafferty having been in such blistering form for his Hagens Berman Axeon team this season, he would be the obvious leader of an Irish team at the race next month, certainly for the general classification.
Rafferty yesterday took his first win of the season, when he wrapped up overall victory at Giro Ciclistico della Valle d'Aosta-Mont Blanc (2.2U). That followed on from his 2nd place overall at Giro Next Gen. His next big goal is the World Championships in Glasgow early next month, especially the U23 TT. The Tour de l'Avenir then starts on August 20th which would, in theory, give him time to recover a little before that race kicks off.
More to come.
