Shane had made very rapid progress in his first year as a junior and rode for the Irish junior team at the recent Course de la Paix Juniors in Czech Republic
Irish cycling has been left reeling following the tragic death of 16-year-old Shane O'Brien in a training ride crash in Co Waterford yesterday, Tuesday.
The Co Cork teenager, who began his cycling career with Fermoy Cycling Club, was a first-year junior this year and had made rapid progress after his promising tenure in the youth categories.
Shane, from Bettyville, Clondulane, Fermoy, Co Cork, had secured a place for this year with the British CAMS Majaco junior team, a new feeder squad for the Ineos Grenadiers U23 and World Tour teams.
He had also been selected onto his first Irish junior team, in May, riding the Course de la Paix Juniors stage race, where he was one of three finishers for Team Ireland.
The Junior UCI Nations Cup event saw him compete on the Irish team alongside Fionn Killeen, James Logue, George Sevastopulo and Caleb McGreevy.
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Shane finishes 2nd in the Lacey Cup in Co Kerry, behind Paul Kennedy, on the opening day of the season despite jumping from the U16 races straight in against the top C1s (Photo: George Doyle)
Cycling Ireland said it was "shocked and deeply saddened" to learn the news of Shane's passing.
"Shane was well known and loved in the cycling community. He recently made his national team debut at Course de la Paix in the Czech Republic and had shown great promise as an emerging talent.
"Shane will be missed dearly by all in the cycling community in Ireland. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and teammates at this time of tragic loss. May he rest in peace."
The CAMS Majaco junior team also issued a statement confirming Shane had died, saying it was doing so with "immense sadness".
"Shane was a talented rider who had a bright future ahead of him, and was a kind-hearted, gentle and positive young man. We were honoured to have him as a member of the team and he will be forever in our hearts," the team said.
"Our thoughts at this devastating time are with his family, friends, teammates and all who were lucky enough to know him."
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Shane, like most of the best juniors in the country, was working towards the National Road Championships in Co Mayo next week but has now very sadly lost his life.
The 16-year-old was a brother of Liam O'Brien, who rides for the Lidl-Trek Future Racing team; the two brothers having thrown themselves into their cycling from their primary school years.
Liam was riding Giro d'Italia Next Gen this week, with the organisers confirming on Wednesday morning he had left the race, while extending it condolences to Liam and his family.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to Liam O'Brien and his family, as Shane O'Brien, Liam's brother passed away yesterday," the race organisers said in a brief statement.
"Liam has left the race, to be with his family in this time of mourning. The Giro Next Gen sends their love and support in these difficult times."
Shane was also a really strong cyclocross rider and his lap times from Belfast last October were the fastest of any race on the day, including the senior men's event (Photo: Sean Rowe)
This year, Shane demonstrated from the start of the season that he was continuing to progress at a rapid rate, and had really worked hard during the winter.
That was clear when he finished 2nd in the Lacey Cup in Co Kerry on the opening day of the campaign on March 1st.
Though he was riding his first race as a junior, against the top C1 senior riders, he stayed the course all the way to the finish with Paul Kennedy (Burren CC) and took 2nd place.
Kennedy told stickybottle on the day that Shane had ridden very strongly in their two-man move, showing a real willingness and ability to get stuck in and generally race hard.
He has also ridden Dornan Rás Mumhan at Easter on the Munster team as well as traveling to France, Belgium and Britain with his CAMS Majaco in recent months, gaining valuable experience.
Shane had also showed great promise as a cyclocross rider, just like his older brother.
At the opening round of the National Cyclocross Series last October at Falls Park, Belfast, his two fastest laps were the fastest of any race that day, including the senior men's event.
In his death notice on RIP.ie, Shane's family described themselve as "heatbroken" and in a state of "inexpressible grief". He is survived by his parents, Eddie and Mary and brothers Liam and Aidan.
