Cycling Ireland intends to send national teams away again this year, after difficulties in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and is now putting plans in place.
With that in mind, the national governing body has invited expressions of interest from riders who would like to represent Ireland at the European Universities Cycling Championships.
The title races take place in the Netherlands in June and
there are places on offer on the road – TT and road race – and also in mountain
bike XC.
It is planned that men’s and women’s selections will be
sent and there are six places open per discipline for riders currently in third
level and who meet performance criteria.
Anyone who would like to express an interest in representing Ireland at the university Europeans must act soon as the deadline is just around the corner, on February 3rd. You can get more details by following this link.
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In 2018 an Irish team was sent to the University World Championships in Portugal comprised of Daragh O’Mahony, Ryan Reilly, Jamie Blanchfield, Craig Rea and Mark O’Callaghan. They were managed by former international Tim Barry and O'Mahony took 8th place.
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Stickybottle also understands a range of other Irish
teams, which are normally sent to major races abroad, will be selected and
compete overseas this year.
How, precisely, those plans will work out will depend on
Covid-19 and restrictions in place both at home and abroad. However, last year
Cycling Ireland was forced to almost completely abandon plans for selecting
national teams for events.
While riders were
set to the World Road Championships in Imola, only a small men’s team was sent
and only riders on WorldTour or ProContinental teams, or riders carded by Sport
Ireland, were eligible.
And while another team was sent to the European Track Championships – where Mia Griffin powered to a brilliant bronze in the U23 individual pursuit – the team was a small one.
There were no
junior or U23 national selections last year and there will be no Irish team at
the World Cyclocross Championships this weekend; all due to Covid-19 restrictions.
However, the fact
plans for the European Universities Cycling Championships are well
underway shows a return to normality, or close to it, is anticipated by Cycling
Ireland in the months ahead.
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