National Champs secures major TV deal for men’s and women’s road races

The National Road Championships always sees a great battle between our home based and international men and women. This year a major TV has been put in place (Photo: George Doyle)

The elite women’s race and combined men’s elite and U23 race at the National Road Championships in just over a fortnight’s time are set to be broadcast on TV.

The organisers and Cycling Ireland have signed a deal that will see both races carried on Eurosport for the first time.

Details of the deal were unveiled by host club Omagh Wheelers this afternoon.

The women’s race, won last year by Blarney’s Fiona Meade, will take place in Co Tyrone, passing through Omagh each lap, on Saturday June 27th.

The men’s combined elite and U23 event, won 12 months ago by An Post-Chainreaction’s Ryan Mullen, takes place on the same course the following day; Sunday, June 28th.

The Eurosport highlights of the races are set for broadcast in a half-hour show the week after the titles are decided.

Eurosport cycling commentator Declan Quigley will present the programme which will be broadcast a number of times.

Fiona Meade won last year's women's title race and will be back from the US, where she has been riding on the pro scene, looking for another win in a couple of weeks (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan - Inpho)

Director of the championships and stalwart of Omagh Wheelers, Stevie McKenna said he and his team were delighted the fruits of theirs and the riders’ labours would was set for Eurosport.

"This year's championships is set to be one of the great weekends of bike racing in recent memory,” he said.

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“And it's only right that it should be presented on a platform as prestigious as British Eurosport.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Irish bike racing and the beautiful surroundings of county Tyrone presented in the best possible light."

Cycling Ireland chief executive Geoff Liffey said the deal was a great development.

"Bringing our sport to a wider audience is an important cornerstone in the development of the sport in Ireland,” he said.

"The National Road Race Championships is traditionally one of the most important events on the calendar.

“And it's entirely appropriate that we should have this opportunity to present the event on British Eurosport; a channel which has become synonymous with top bike racing coverage.

“I wish Stevie and his team at Omagh Wheelers all the best in their endeavours at the event."