Four Irish cyclists have been selected to receive funding during the coming season to help cover the costs of racing. Adam Stenson, above, is one of them (Photo with thanks to Anthony Hawkins)
The Emerald Fund has named four young Irish cyclists as the recipients for its funding in the year ahead.
Those chosen are racing with teams abroad and will use the money to help cover their costs.
Three of the riders will be based in France while a fourth will likely reside in Ireland but race abroad. They are:
- Ben Walsh, Blagnac Velo Sport
- Adam Stenson, UC Monaco
- Darragh O Mahony, CC Nogent
- Aaron Kearney, Evo Pro Cycling
Walsh (19) is a former junior TT champion and Junior Tour of Ireland winner. He competed for the Vitus Continental team in the UK last year.
He told stickybottle recently he was looking forward to racing in France this year. Furthermore, he plans to refocus on his TT riding as a key strength.
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Stenson (20) has ridden for Ireland at both junior and U23 level and raced with the Speeder team in Switzerland in 2018.
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With his new team competing a lot in Italy during the coming season, Stenson believes that style of racing will suit him.
Darragh O’Mahony (21) had a very strong season last year in France and was a regular on the Irish U23 team.
He’s ridden both the Tour de l’Avenir and the Worlds twice as an U23. And with another year left in that category he is in a great position to have a strong season.
Aaron Kearney (20) will ride for the new EvoPro Racing Continental team this year.
And while rode mostly for Viner-Caremark-Pactimo last year he got a taste of pro racing in China with Holdsworth Pro Racing.
The Emerald Fund was established four years ago by Garda CC member Dave O’Connell. It aims to offer financial support to developing riders.
In time it hopes to fill the same role in Irish cycling as the Dave Rayner Fund has so successfully done in Britain for many years.
Some €6,000 was on offer last year, with four riders receiving €1,500 each. A similar sum is available this year.
Both Stenson and Walsh were among the riders funded last year – with Jake Gray and James Curry.
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