Cycling Ireland unveils 16-strong rider line up for new 'FBD Talent Team 2020' squad

Eventual overall winner Jake Gray on the front of the decisive breakaway on the final stage of the Youth Tour of Scotland 2013, with stage winner and FBD Talent Team 2020 team mate Michael O’Loughlin in third place. The Irish pair are wearing orange jerseys because Ireland led the team category. They are among 16 riders named for the Talent Team squad next year.

Cycling Ireland has named the latest batch of the most promising male youth riders in Ireland for its ‘FBD Talent Team 2020’ squad.

The group had its first meeting at the weekend when it gathered for a training day at the Springfield Hotel in Lucan, Co Dublin.

The Talent Team 2020 was launched in 2011 with the aim of developing and guiding young riders, with the long-term goal of having a strong squad competing at the Olympic Games in 2020.

The latest squad is a mixture of new and experienced riders, with some of the names in the panel for next year having already been involved in the set-up. They have been joined by others who are progressing well and have been introduced for the first time.

The main objective of the Talent Team 2020 programme is 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.

Team manager Martin O’Loughlin said 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.

“Once riders enter the junior category, the expectations are different, the race lengths are longer and the standard is high. We want to develop them as young riders, and make this transition easier.”

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.