Cycling Ulster names two teams for Lincoln GP in England | Sticky Bottle

*Katharine Smyth in the green of Ireland at last year’s Rás na mBan. She is in the Cycling Ulster team for the Lincoln GP (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan)*

Cycling Ulster has named two teams for this Sunday’s Lincoln GP, always one of the most challenging British National Road Series events.

The provincial
body has named teams for the men’s race and the women’s event this weekend.

While some of
those selected are not new to international competition, others are getting
their first taste of international competition through their selections.

Gareth O’Neill of
Newry Wheelers and Donal Shearer of Phoenix CC have been two of the
breakthrough performers of the Irish season so far and both are picked.

O’Neill went to within one second of taking the yellow jersey during the recent Tour of the North and Shearer was 5th overall in the Tour of Ulster last weekend.

Gareth O'Neill is selected by Cycling Ulster for the Lincoln GP

Donal Shearer gets the nod for the English race after some great rides (Both photos by Toby Watson)

They are joined
by three prolific and experience riders with international experience already;
Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport), James Curry (Dan Morrissey-MIG-Pactimo) and
Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles).

A three-rider
women’s team has been selected, which includes Eileen Burns of Ballymena Road
Club; a veteran of the Worlds, Europeans and Commonwealth Games and a former
national TT champion.

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She is joined by Katharine Smith, an Irish international whose career wins included the Des Hanlon Memorial, and Laura Blair (Ballymena RC).

Cycling Ulster
road commission chairman, Patrick Withers, said the teams were strong and up to the challenge.

“This will be the first outing for Ulster men’s and
women’s road teams for the 2019 season,”
he said.

“The event forms part of the British National Road Series
for men and women so it is a positive development to be represented in both
races.

“It’s
great to see the Road Commission and Women’s Commission working collaboratively
to ensure this was the case.

“It will be a step up in competition from what our riders
usually contend with in races at home.

“However, many have represented Ulster and
Ireland on the international stage before so are well capable of putting in
some good performances.

“I want to thank the volunteers who have come forward to
assist the teams this weekend, without them we would be unable to provide the
riders with these opportunities.”