Josh Callaly is progressing after two strong seasons as a junior rider, and breaking into the national team set-up, with a move to an Italian team for his first campaign as an U23 rider in 2025.
Callaly (18) has competed with Lucan CRC in recent years and made the Irish team for the Junior Tour of Ireland and Dornan Rás Mumhan this year, when he ended the season as the top junior in the domestic rankings.
He won stage 2 of the Newry Three Day, the Peter Bidwell Memorial and the Lucan GP while performing very consistently from the start of the 2024 campaign to the end.
Callaly will race with Campana Imballaggi Geo&Tex Trentino next season, an Italian U23 line-up with 11 riders, of which the Irish teenager is the only non-Italian. The team - based in Lavis, Trentino - also runs a junior squad, which is comprised of eight riders.
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The U23 includes a number of riders who have represented Italy including road rider Leonardo Volpato and multiple European champion on the track, Mattia Predomo.
“We are ready to start again with a lot of desire and determination," said team manager, Alessandro Coden.
"Many guys from all over the world have asked us if there was space in the team, confirming that the perception of the team from the outside is really good.
"We thank everyone who was interested, but we had to make some choices, giving space above all to the guys from our movement.
"However, we wanted to give Callaly a chance, because he has interesting numbers and it will be an opportunity for all the guys to interface with another culture."
