Cycling Ireland is looking for expressions of interest from our elite female track riders who would like to race in the World Track Championships in Paris in October. However, the national governing body has said no places for male Irish riders have been qualified.
It added due to the crash sustained by JB Murphy, who is the only funded male rider in the elite national squad, earlier this year no places have been qualified in endurance events. Added to that, Ireland has not had male sprinters in action in major events on the international scene, meaning no sprint places have been qualified.
Murphy (22), who won bronze at the Europeans last year, had been due to ride the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham but suffered fractures in the crash during Grand Prix de la ville de Pérenchies (1.2) in France while riding for EvoPro Racing the week before the Games, necessitating a long recovery period.
Advertisement
The fact he was taken out of action significantly dented Ireland’s men’s track efforts as he was lined up as the only regular male rider in the elite team.
Related News
The World Track Championships are set to take place in Paris from October 12th to 16th. While the allocation of places for each nation had not yet been confirmed as the expression of interest process was opened, Cycling Ireland said slots have been qualified in female endurance events and possibly in the female sprint events.
Elite female riders, who believe they have met the criteria, are now asked to express their interest to the federation by midnight September 4th and the selection process will take place over the following week.
“Whilst our quota places have yet to be confirmed by the UCI, our standings in the UCI rankings suggest that we have qualified in most women’s endurance events, and possibly some sprint events,” said new national track coach Dan Henchy.
“Sadly, the injury sustained by JB Murphy earlier this season means that we won’t qualify any slots in the men’s endurance events, and we’ll miss out in men’s sprint events also.”
“This year’s World Championships in Paris will be an excellent opportunity for riders to show what they are capable of and gain experience racing at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome which will host track cycling at the 2024 Olympic Games.”
