Jack Wilson, above, and Eddie Dunbar have both been named on the Irish team despite being injured with broken bones. But they should be back at full tilt by the time they ride the inaugural European Games in Baku next month (Photo: Joe Duffy)
Cycling Ireland has named the Irish team that will compete at the inaugural European Games next month in Azerbaijan.
Caroline Ryan is the only woman selected and she will ride both the time trial and road race.
There are five in the men’s team, four of which ride with the An Post-Chainreaction squad; Ryan Mullen, Conor Dunne, Sean Downey and Jack Wilson.
Eddie Dunbar has also been selected, having blasted his way into the very centre of the national U23 set-up with his performances in the UK and Continental Europe this season.
Advertisement
Cycling Ireland technical director Brian Nugent said the new Games, to be held every four years, were an excellent opportunity for those selected.
"With our WorldTour riders committed to their pro team programs at this time, this provides an excellent opportunity for the next generation of Olympic athletes to gain valuable major games experience whilst being competitive in this environment,” he said.
In naming the men’s team it has, the federation has included two riders currently sidelined with broken bones; Dunbar and Wilson.
Caroline Ryan will ride the road race and TT at the European Games. Ireland only had one slot for women and the rules stipulate the same rider must compete against the watch and on the road two days later (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Both should be back racing in just over one month when the European Games get underway, on June 12th.
And they will hopefully have regained fitness by the third weekend in June when the road race they are set to ride will be contested.
Wilson crashed at the Nations Cup race in France, La Côte Picarde, on April 15th, and broke his collarbone and a bone in his wrist.
He has since resumed training but was forced to undergo surgery on his arm last week having already had his collarbone operated on.
Related News
The span of just over two months between crashing and the European Games event should not pose any great difficulty for him.
The timeframe for Dunbar is tighter; with the NFTO Pro Cycling man having broken his collarbone on the opening stage of the Tour de Yorkshire last Friday, May 1st.
However, with seven weeks between his crash and the race in Azerbaijan he should be comfortably back to racing action in time.
Ryan Mullen has already taken junior and U23 TT silver at the European and World championships respectively. Could he grab a gold in Baku? (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Downey has progressed very significantly in the past 12 to 18 months and Dunne has been riding very strongly so far this season.
Now having aged out of the U23 category, they will go into the race in Baku next month as the senior riders in the camp and keen to show what they can do.
Mullen, a silver medalist in the U23 time trial at the World Championships last year, will fancy his chances of taking a medal in the TT in Baku. He will be the only Irish rider in the men’s test.
Caroline Ryan will also be fancied in the women’s event, though her focus has been on the track so far this year.
The Games are governed by the European Olympic Committees and will take place every four years, with cycling just one sport to feature.
Over 6,000 athletes from the 50 national Olympic committees of Europe will compete in 20 sports over 17 consecutive days at Baku.
The inaugural games will consist of 16 Olympic sports, and four non-Olympic sports.
Topics
