Rian McCrystal, a first-year junior with Cannibal B Victorious, is one of five juniors on the Irish team for the Junior Tour of Ireland (Photo: Toby Watson)
Cycling Ireland has named a five-man Irish national team for the Quanta Capital Junior Tour of Ireland in Co Clare next week. The team is comprised of some of the form men of the season to date, including two with Rás Tailteann already under their belts.
“We’re heading into the Junior Tour of Ireland with a really strong team and a great spread of qualities, which gives us options to target both stage wins and the general classification," said Cycling Ireland high performance pathway lead, Stuart Balfour.
"It’s always a special race, being the national tour, so we’re proud to be representing the Irish jersey and we’re determined to show it well. The guys are really looking forward to the challenge and making the most of the opportunity.”
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Hugh Óg Mulhearne (AS Villemur Cyclisme) and Fionn Killeen (Kilcullen CC Murphy Geospatial) were the two juniors selected for the Irish team on the Rás, gaining an invaluable development opportunity on home roads.
Both have had a very strong season so far this year, with Mulhearne at the top of the junior rankings in France for a period at the start of the season, such was the quality of his results in French races.
Killeen has really announced himself this year, taking a strong victory in the junior race at the National Cyclocross Championships in January before placing 3rd on the hardest stage finish at Rás Mumhan towards 10th overall.
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Both Killeen and Mulhearne have not only held their own in some of the hardest senior races they have ridden, they have been among the very strongest in those events.
James Armstrong (U19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant) has also gained selection and, like Mulhearne and Killeen, he too is enjoying a fantastic season.
Much of the feedback to stickybottle from senior riders he has raced against has been very positive, always mentioning his willingness to get stuck in and his ability to do so.
He took silver in both the junior TT and road race at the National Road Championships in Co Mayo over the weekend. He only missed out on TT gold by six seconds, with Jack Lawless (Gorey CC) winning the title.
Rian McCrystal (Cannibal B Victorious) and Darragh Byrne (AS Villemur Cyclisme) complete this very strong Irish junior national team for 'The JT'.
Like Mulhearne, this is Byrne's second season with French team, AS Villemur Cyclisme. He has gained valuable experience, and been exposed to the higher intensity of European racing, which should really stand to him next week.
McCrystal is the only first-year junior on the team, a sure sign that Cycling Ireland sees him as one for the future. He finished just outside the medals in the TT and road race at the Nationals, but performed strongly for 4th and 5th in those title races.
Injury put a bit of a hole in his early season but he is clearly back in shape, and racing strongly, and will have nothing to fear from the domestic and international opposition next week.
