Belgian-based Fermoy man Eoin McCarthy is among a number of new riders to get his chance on the U23 world stage for the upcoming Nations Cup races
By Brian Canty
Six of the country’s most promising U23 riders will face a gruelling week, starting on Saturday, when they take part in three races in a bid to qualify slots for Ireland for September’s World Championships in Florence, Italy.
Conor Dunne (VL Technics-Abutriek), Eoin McCarthy (Terra Footwear-Bicycleline), Ryan Mullen (IG Sigma Sport), Conor McIlwaine (Errigal CC), Cormac Clarke (Newry Wheelers) and Daniel Stewart (Audi East Antrim) will line up against some of the best U23 riders in the world for what is sure to be a gruelling test against very experienced competitors.
Jack Wilson (An Post-Chainreaction) had been selected to go but a stomach illness has ruled him out of the first race at least. Wilson could return on Wednesday for Picardie, however.
Advertisement
Charles Prendergast (Polygon Sweet Nice) was also in the mix for selection but fell ill after last weekend’s Kerry Group Rás Mumhan. Similarly, Felix English (Rapha Condor JLT) was also considered but was restricted by team commitments. His team mate Aaron Buggle is slightly over the age limit for the U23 ranks this year.
The team will race this Saturday in the Ronde Van Vlaanderen in Belgium, staying in the country for four nights before driving down to France on Sunday for La Cote Picardie next Wednesday before finishing up next Saturday in Holland at the ZLM Tour.
And head coach of Cycling Ireland Brian Nugent, who will manage the team for the week, said the emphasis is more about learning, given four of the team have only just left the junior ranks, with Dunne, Mullen and McCarthy possessing more racing experience on the Continent.
Related News
“The emphasis will be on experience for the younger lads and to go from each race and be able to support the likes of Conor and Jack when he’s fit. By the end of the three races I hope to be competing. Conor I’d expect to be competing straight away, and the other guys just finding their feet. It’s going to be an education as well for them.”
Nugent wasn’t sugar-coating what they’ll be up against.
“They’re UCI Nations Cup races so it’s the best U23 guys in the world they’ll be up against. It’s a qualifier for the World Championships so there’s two ways of getting into the Worlds; through your UCI U23 ranking and also these races here. We’re not really expecting mass participation in the Worlds this year because it’s a new group. But this is one way, over a two-year period, that we can qualify for the Worlds in the future. The races are all over 100 miles, the other guys that’ll be in them are mainly at Pro teams or low-level feeder teams into pro teams. They’re the top riders in the world at U23 so we’ll be up against it,” he said.
Having managed an Irish development team at Rás Mumhan last weekend - featuring all but McCarthy and Dunne - Nugent is optimistic for the riders he has at his disposal.
“It was their first time out of junior so the first day or two was about getting to know one another. But then they had bad luck with four punctures in two days. Ryan Mullen punctured out of the break. But the last two days they began to work as a team, McIlwaine got third on the Valentia stage and I think they were in nearly every break so the process is working.”
“They got clear instructions and followed them and I was really pleased coming out of it that they followed them and got up the road and were able to compete. That’s a very good sign.”
As mentioned already, Nugent will manage the team, Adrian Delaney is mechanic while Davy Gardener is soigneur and assistant manager.
Topics
