Sam Bennett leads the elite men's line-up at the European Road Race Championships on Sunday week.

Irish teams for European Road Champs

Sam Bennett and Eddie Dunbar lead the elite and U23 Irish teams at the European Road Championships next week.

And while a large Irish team has been named, Cycling Ireland is only sending two women in a line-up of 17 riders.

Eileen Burns is the sole representative in the elite TT. And Lydia Boylan carries Ireland's hopes into the elite road race, with no team mates to help her.

The championships take place in Herning, Denmark, from next Wednesday to Sunday.

And because the courses for both the road races and TTs are flat, it should suit this Irish team.

Sam Bennett will be a real contender for the elite road crown. And Xeno Young and Ryan Mullen will be in contention for the junior and elite TTs.

In the U23 TT and road race, Michael O'Loughlin and Eddie Dunbar should press Ireland's case and may well come away with a medal.

Cycling Ireland technical director Brian Nugent believes this is a team full of potential.

“The courses for both the road race and TT are very fast, with a few technical corners included in the road race in around the town," he said.

"They are good courses for the teams we have selected. The road races should come to a bunch sprint, or a sprint from a fairly large group.

"We have strong riders in all the categories and are expecting to do well here.”

Backing Sam Bennett in the elite road race is a mix of youth and experience.

Matt Brammeier is selected alongside Sean McKenna, Ryan Mullen and Damien Shaw.

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Similarly, the U23 team is very strong. Dunbar and O'Loughlin are joined by Daire Feeley, Darragh O’Mahony and Rás stage winner and yellow jersey Matthew Teggart.

The junior road race team is an interesting one; filled with riders who have really come into their own this season.

And having won two stages in the recent Junior Tour of Ireland, Banbridge CC man John Buller gets his first chance in an Irish shirt.

Joining Buller are Aaron Doherty, Patrick Doogan, Ben Walsh and Xeno Young.