A three-rider Irish team has been selected for UCI Cyclocross World Championships in the Czech Republic next week, with juniors and U23s given the nod by the selectors.
There will be one Irish rider in three races - the junior men's and women's events and the U23 men's - though the selectors have, surprisingly, passed on the option of selecting more juniors.
While Dean Harvey, Greta Lawless and Conor Murphy and all completely deserving of their place on the team, one surprise is the omission of Aliya Rafferty from the junior women's race.
Harvey (Trinity Racing) has excelled over the last couple of seasons and again won the elite race at the recent National Cyclocross Championships in Limerick, meaning his selection was always assure.
Likewise, juniors Lawless and Murphy, both real contenders for the future for Irish cycling, have really stepped up this season. Lawless, a first-year junior, proved herself immediately able to compete with, and beat, the best elite riders in the country from season start.
Advertisement
She took silver in the elite race at the National Cyclocross Championships where Murphy won the junior men's race, after taking an historic top 10 racing in Europe just before Christmas.
Related News
And it seems the selectors' preference for riders who competed in Europe recently has counted against Rafferty, even though she won the elite race at the National Championships earlier this month.
Still, Rafferty's non-selection does not detract from the three riders who are picked and all three are very worthy members of a national team for a Worlds.
The Worlds take place in Tábor, Czech Republic, from next Friday to Sunday, February 2nd to 4th. Harvey riders in the U23 man's race, Lawless (Team WORC) the junior women's race and Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) the junior men's race.
Paul Birchall, cyclo-cross coordinator with Cycling Ireland, said he was very much looking forward to seeing the riders in action at the Worlds.
“We are delighted to be bringing a team of three riders to the Cyclo-cross World Championships next week," he said. “It’s been an incredible season and we’ve some great young athletes.
"It was a tough selection process, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing these riders compete on the world stage. Thank you to all the riders, parents and everyone who has supported the cyclocross development programme this season."
