RTÉ will broadcast a feast of cycling from the Rio Olympics, starting with tomorrow's men's road race. And three men well known on the home scene will analyse all the action for us; Declan Quigley, PJ Nolan and Martyn Irvine.
By Brian Canty
Olympian, former world track champion and ex-professional Martyn Irvine will be an RTÉ studio analyst for the men’s road race in Rio de Janeiro this Saturday.
The entire race will be screened on the broadcaster's News Now TV station. And RTÉ 2, with Irvine as analyst, will join the race for long periods as the contest unfolds.
Well-known Eurosport commentator and journalist Declan Quigley will act as the lead commentator with former Cycling Ireland president PJ Nolan his co-commentator.
Nolan was an RTÉ of some note for many years, with a special interest in agriculture and has teamed up from time to time with his former employer to offer cycling analysis.
Advertisement
The trio will make a very formidable team and bring a huge range of experience and insight.
Expert views on the Olympic chances of compatriots - and cousins - Dan Martin and Nicolas Roche #RoadToRio #Olympicshttps://t.co/eFpXG81zqv
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 3, 2016
Declan Quigley and PJ Nolan - a former RTE broadcaster and one-time president of Cycling Ireland - run the rule over Roche and Martin.
Related News
And as well as Saturday’s road race which gets underway at 2.30pm Irish time, Quigley and Nolan will also be doing the women’s race on Sunday, all the track events as well as the BMX and MTB battles.
It’s huge news for the sport in this country which previously got very little air-time during the Olympics.
With Dan Martin and Nicolas Roche both among the medal contenders on Saturday, the national broadcaster televising the race is a really positive reflection of cycling's standing in the country at the moment.
Shannon McCurley is Ireland's only track rider in Rio and we'll have an interview with her in the next few days.
Aside from the two-man road race team, the only other Irish rider involved in the Games is Shannon McCurley.
The Australian-born Irish woman goes in the keirin on Saturday week, August 13th, and we will have an in-depth interview with her long before she races.
“It’s going to be a great fortnight for Irish bike racing fans and we’re really looking forward to covering Dan and Nico on Saturday and Shannon the following weekend," said Quigley.
“Depending on how the race unfolds, I think either or even both Dan and Nico can be in the mix for a medal hitting the bottom of the final climb on Saturday. I can’t wait.”
Anyone with any questions throughout the coverage can pop Quigley a message on Twitter @DQSport or Irvine; @Martyn_Irvine.
Topics
