The Irish team for the upcoming UCI eSports Cycling World Championships has been increased after Zwift gave Imogen Cotter a wildcard entry to compete for Ireland in the women's title race.
Cycling Ireland had already named the Irish team for the event, with Chris Dawson (Dawson Racing) and Richard (St Finbarr's CC) competing in the men's race while Linda Kelly (Barrow Wheelers) and Heather Foley (Yeats Country CC) selected for the women's eventy.
However, with the wildcard entry extended to Cotter by Zwift, on whose platform the world titles will be decided, Ireland will now have three riders in the women's event. Cotter (Fenix-Deceuninck Continental) will soon get her 2023 road season started after missing almost all of last season after being hit by a driver near Girona twelve months ago and suffered career-threatening injuries.
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Cycling Ireland head coach, Neil Delahaye, said he was very pleased to see Cotter back in action as she bids to regain the condition that carried her to the national road race championships gold medal in 2021.
"Imogen demonstrated a very high level in Zwift races a couple of seasons ago and we believe in her ability to race again at this level, as strong as ever, in the Irish jersey," said Delahaye.
"The opportunity offered by Zwift to include her in the Team for the UCI E-Sport Worlds gives her the chance to deliver a strong performance and serve as a stepping stone for her into a successful road season."
The Worlds will be run over what Cycling Ireland called “three short and explosive events” – The Punch, The Climb and The Podium – on three different routes for the male and female riders. The title races take place on February 18th, with Dawson and Barry having both represented Ireland in last year's Worlds.
