Josie Knight has made her name on the track but has now signed for a new team with a focus on pro road racing (Photo: Sean Rowe)
One of the really big hopes on road and track for Ireland for the future, Josie Knight is set to step up a gear next year having signed for UK outfit Team WNT.
The squad has counted Lydia Boylan as one of its best riders in recent seasons and the Dubliner has won the elite national road crown twice during her tenure with WNT.
Knight will now have access to pro road racing in the UK and Continental Europe and should also be able to marry her road and track ambitions, just has Boylan has done in recent seasons.
However, road will take more of a central role in her progression from now, with Team WNT suggesting as much.
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Boylan wins the first of her two national road race crowns. She will be joined by Knight at Team WNT next year (Photo: Jimmy McElroy)
“Josie now turns her focus to the road where she’ll play a key part in our sprint lead-outs with her strong pursuiting and time trialling background,” said team manager Tony Pennington, who is also the UK managing director of WNT UK.
From Dingle in Co Kerry, Knight is still only 19 years old but is a regular in the Irish elite track team.
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She won a silver medal in the individual pursuit in the European Championships when a first-year junior and opted to ride at U23 level in her second year in the junior ranks.
She has also ridden for Ireland at major road championships, including the junior Worlds road race and TT two years ago and the European U23 road race and TT this season.
Knight gets her head down during the junior time trial at the World Road Championships in Spain in 2014 before a crash would ruin her effort (Photo: Sirotti)
Knight won the elite Irish omnium title on the track this year and rode the World Track Championships this season as part of the team pursuit line-up.
“I’m over the moon to have signed with Team WNT for 2017, I’ve always had my focus on the track but now I’m relishing the opportunity to race on the road with Team WNT,” she said.
“It was an easy decision to make as they’re set up is second to none, and I’ve always loved road racing.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and gain experience from the more established road riders on the team.”
Pennington said the team was delighted to have Knight on board having recently re-signed Boylan.
“I welcome Josie to the team, she is a huge talent, with a silver medal at the junior European Track Championships, and whilst still a junior was part of the senior women’s team pursuit squad for Ireland," he said.
“I’m looking forward to watching her develop as a rider and I believe she will play a key role to our success.”
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