Irish junior squad launched by Cycling Ireland

Cycling Ireland has named an Irish squad of thirteen juniors from which national teams will be picked for major races such as the Junior Tour, European Championships and World Championships.

While the 2012 panel (see line-up below) announced today is made up of the best juniors in the country, others not included but who perform well enough would be eligible for inclusion in the squad in the months ahead.

Some of those named in the squad have effectively stepped up from Cycling Ireland’s Talent Team 2020 squad, while others are older and are now second year juniors.

The squad is being underpinned with a strong development ethos rather than over burdening the riders with pressure to gain results.

With this in mind, any riders picked on Irish junior teams will wear an Irish development kit for all races apart from the Junior Tour, Europeans and Worlds.

Cycling Ireland believes Irish jerseys should only be worn for the bigger races in order to instil the belief into the riders that they must work hard to get to wear the green of Ireland.

The squad will have access to Cycling Ireland development coaches and will participate in training camps at home and abroad, as well as domestic and international races.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

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

There will be two training camps in April and May followed by a selection for the Gorey Three Day over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. The team riding the Gorey will most likely consist only of first-year juniors, with the aim of introducing them to the skills needed for stage racing in a team environment. There will also be a national junior team in the Tour of Ulster.

During the summer months the key targets for the squad are the Junior Tour on home roads and Europeans in Holland.

Before the Junior Tour there will be a training camp followed by a period of racing as a team in Belgium and Holland. This is designed to prepare the best of the riders for the European Championships.

The World Championships in Valkenburg, Holland, is the major goal for the final part of the season and will see the teenagers lining out at a venue that brought the world junior title to Ireland’s Mark Scanlon back in 1998.

The junior squad is overseen by Cycling Ireland head development coach Paddy Doran and junior development coach Frank O’Leary.

Irish Junior Squad 2012