Cycling Ireland has revealed the riders who have been selected for the Talent Team 2020 national youth squad for this year. Above, Conor Gallagher on the far left, along with Conor Halvey, second from left and Adam Ward, second from right, have made the cut (Photo: John Coleman – Dc Images)
The identities of the riders who will comprise the Talent Team 2020 national youth squad this year have been revealed, with five boys and three girls making up the eight-rider roster.
The boys in the team are: Aaron Doherty, Adam Ward, Conor Gallagher, Conor Halvey and Mark Smith.
And the girls who have won places are Amanda Gallagher, Maeve Gallagher and Orla Desmond.
Cycling Ireland said the eight riders in what it called the “initial team” would focus on the Youth Tour of Scotland which takes place in March.
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The riders gathered at a training camp in Kilmessan, Co Meath, yesterday.
They attended a presentation hosted by Cycling Ireland's anti-doping officer Declan Byrne before participating in a 50km group training spin.
Inclusion in the squad is a great opportunity with some of last year's riders, above, racing at the European Youth Olympics.
Coaches Martin O’Loughlin and Nicola McKeverigan will once again be managing the teams, and new Cycling Ireland President Ciaran McKenna was also present for the team launch.
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The federation said it anticipated new riders could join the team later in the season, following recommendations from the various coaches responsible for youth cycling around the country in the Youth Academy.
Under the tutelage of coaches McKiverigan and O’ Loughlin, the team will race a packed programme of events at home and abroad.
The long-term goal is to have a strong squad competing at the Olympic Games in 2020.
The shorter term objective of the programme is to assist riders with the transition into the junior ranks from youth cycling.
Amanda Gallagher's results and ability have been rewarded with a place on the Talent Team 2020 for the coming season.
The programme seeks to assist riders with the transition into the junior ranks, giving them skills and knowledge to enable them work with the increased expectations placed on them as they grow.
Established in 2012, the squad set-up is aimed at maintaining riders in the sport and continuing to nurture them from youth racing through to the junior ranks when the fall-off rate has been high in the past.
Squad members are offered access to coaching advice, and have the opportunity to liaise with the junior development coach to ensure they maximise their impact on the junior programme.
The riders can also receive assistance regarding educational opportunities such as completion of scholarship application forms.
It is anticipated that some of the riders will be selected for racing and training trips to the UK and mainland Europe next year as has been the case for the last couple of seasons since the squad’s inception.
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