There will be no Irish riders, in any category, at the European Road Championships in Belgium next week. No team has been selected as Cycling Ireland has opted for a more targeted approach to team selections this year.
Though the Olympics and Paralympics have put pressure on resources, the national governing body has also sought to invest more in junior riders this season, with male and female teams sent to UCI Nations Cup events.
A national team was also sent to the junior track Worlds, in China, while expressions of interest have also been sought for the World Road Championships in Zurich later this month, and the elite World Track Championships in Copenhagen next month.
Those selections mean, while the absence of an Irish team from the road Europeans, starting in nine days time in Limburg, will come as a disappointment, there remain opportunities ahead for some riders this year.
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The news is perhaps most disappointing for the U23 group, which has seen few chances this year, including no national team being sent to Tour de l'Avenir last month. That is a race where several Irish riders have been successful in recent seasons, including a stage win last year for Archie Ryan.
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However, with races for juniors, U23s and elites at the road Worlds in Zurich at the end of this month, the best U23s in the country may yet get their chance.
Ireland last medaled at a road Europeans back in 2017, when Ryan Mullen took bronze in the elite men's TT behind Victor Campenaerts (Belgium) and Maciej Bodnar (Poland).
The course for the road races this time around in Limburg could best be described as Belgian classics-style terrain; undulating roads with repeated small climbs suited to the sprinters who can climb best.
Cycling Ireland earlier this year published a schedule of international races it planned to send national teams to, with the road Europeans not included. While that schedule was not exhaustive, and has been added to since it was first published, neither the Europeans nor Tour de l'Avenir were included.
Last year, Cycling Ireland did not intend to send a team to Tour de l'Avenir, but just before the race it secured the funding required and a team was sent. However, such a late change will not happen for the Europeans, with riders having already been informed no team will be sent.
We will bring you reaction from Cycling Ireland shortly.
