With four Irish riders competing for Holdsworth Pro Cycling, just seven places available in the Tour de Yorkshire line-up; the Irish faced a battle to be picked. One of the four, Sean McKenna, has made the team and will line-up against the top pros in the world later this week (Photo: John Hammer)

Sean McKenna in Holdsworth Pro Cycling Tour de Yorkshire team

Irish rider Sean McKenna has been named in the Holdsworth Pro Cycling team to ride the Tour de Yorkshire.

He is part of a seven-man line-up for the four-stage race. It gets underway on Thursday.

McKenna (24) has shown his form this year by winning the Des Hanlon Memorial. He also gained selection for the World Road Championships last year.

And in that race in Bergen, against the top pro riders in the world, he made the main early breakaway of the day.

He will look to see what he can do in Yorkshire against some of the best WorldTour outfits in the sport.

Among the teams riding are Team Sky, Movistar, BMC, Astana, Katusha-Alpecin and Dimension Data.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Italy's hero Balsamo mobbed mid-stage during Giro TT

Not long till @letouryorkshire now ..
Here’s the lads that will be going up hill and down dale ?

??Russ Downing
??Jake Womersley
??Tom Mazzone
??Leon Mazzone
??Sean McKenna
??Seid Lizde
??Mattia Viel #orangeandblue

— Holdsworth Bikes Official (@Holdsworthbikes) May 1, 2018

Aqua Blue Sport is among the ProContinental teams lining out. Eddie Dunbar is confirmed as taking part, though the full selection has not yet been confirmed.

There are four Irish riders on the Holdsworth Pro Cycling roster this year.

However, with limited places available for Yorkshire and with competition within the squad intense, being picked for the race was always going to be a challenge.

Conn McDunphy and Dermot Trulock are still U23 riders and they must wait to make their debut at this level.

Damien Shaw is more experienced and is the former elite road race champion. However, he has not been picked this time around.

Shaw was hit by a hip injury last year which continued into the winter. It meant his training was way behind when he was finally able to get back to putting in hard miles.

And that set-back has undermined his condition in the early months of the season.