An Irish national team of four junior riders has been selected to compete in the next round of the UCI Junior Nations Cup in the Netherlands. The selection is part of a trend this season involving more chances for Irish juniors abroad following the pandemic years.
The latest fixture for the top Irish U18 riders is the Watersley Ladies Challenge 2024, a prestigious international event that will test the team, though they definitely have the goods to compete.
The decision to send the Irish riders represents the first time for several years an Irish junior women's team has been sent to such a major European stage race. It also comes just weeks after one of the selected riders, Lucy Bénézet Minns, won gold in the points race at the European Track Championships.
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However, though Bénézet Minns (Tofauti Everyone Active) also placed 4th in the TT at the World Road Championships last year, she is not the only very promising rider on this Irish team.
She will be joined by Aine Doherty (VC Glendale), Kate Murphy (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) and Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active).
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Doherty is a very strong performer in the road and cyclocross disciplines and has already represented Ireland, while Murphy is a noted up-and-comer who rode the European Youth Olympics for Ireland last year.
Rafferty has been warming up for the Dutch race with some events in Europe, putting in a very strong performance at Grand Prix Ceratizit Plouay Women Junior (1.1) on Saturday.
The Watersley Ladies Challenge unfolds from August 30th to September 1st at the Sports and Talent Park in Watersley, the Netherlands, and the national team will be managed by former international road ride turned coach, Barry Monaghan.
Michael Black, the 'national pathway lead' for Cycling Ireland, said the decision to select an Irish team for the Dutch event was a significant one.
"Competing in the Watersley Ladies Challenge is a tremendous opportunity for our junior women's team," he said. "The Nations Cup series represents the pinnacle of junior racing, and it's been some time since we've had a team at an event of this magnitude.
"The experience these riders will gain - both in terms of racing and the exposure to international competition - will be invaluable for their development. It’s a testament to the progress we’ve made in nurturing young talent, and we’re confident that Lucy, Aine, Kate, and Aliyah will make Ireland proud on the world stage."
