James Armstrong (VC Glendale) may have been a first-year junior on the road this year but he certainly made his mark. And now the 17-year-old is stepping up to a major French development team for next season.
Armstrong - who also raced for a time in the colours of Belgian junior team VZW WP de Molenspurters Meulebeke this year - really underlined his potential in the junior road race at the National Road Championships in Co Meath in June.
On a wet day, he went head-to-head, up the road, for most of the race with eventual winner, Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles), and runner-up, Rory Condon (Zappi Racing). And though he faded a little towards the end - placing 5th - Armstrong was one of the riders of the day.
He put in that performance in a year when also took several road race wins - including at the Noel Teggart, John Haldane Memorial, Foyle GP, Boyne GP and Emyvale GP.
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Armstrong also placed 4th in the junior race at the National Cyclocross Championships and made the national team for the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dublin.
Armstrong has now signed for U19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant for next season and will be a team mate of compatriot Caleb McGreevy, who has signed for the team after a very strong second-year U16 season this year.
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The team had three riders on its books this year including national road race and TT champion - and European's TT silver medal winner, Conor Murphy, as well as Cameron Henry and Adam Ward.
The team rides major races up to and including Ain Bugey Valromey Tour (2.1), which is regarded as one of the most prestigious and hardest junior stage races in European racing.
It is also a team that has proven a very useful launch pad, and development vehicle for young riders from all over the world. This year, the team’s riders included Britain’s Harry Hudson, who won the junior men’s road race at the UCI World Championships in Rwanda.
Past riders include Maxime Decomble (Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ), who led Tour de l’Avenir for four stages this year, took bronze in the U23 TT at the Worlds and also won U23 Paris Tours last weekend.
Runner-up to Decomble at U23 Paris-Tours this year, Kiwi Reef Roberts (Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ), was also part of the French junior team last season.
The riders on 19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant often compete in the team’s colours for selected races while racing for their domestic teams in other events.
That offers them the option of remaining with teams and clubs they are familiar with while also having the opportunity to step up to U19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant for international events.
