The Irish juniors had their best year ever in 2024 and though in previous years the male juniors have racked up most, or all, of the top results, that was definitely not the case this season.
The Irish female juniors rode superbly, winning a European title, claiming medals in elite championships and going abroad and underlining their standing among the very best.
Stickybottle has picked the 11 best performances of the year by Irish female juniors and ranked them from 1st.
Lucy Bénézet Minns | European Track Championships
Bénézet Minns (Tofauti Everyone Active) followed in the footsteps of riders like Lara Gillespie and Sam Bennett in winning gold at the junior Europeans, taking the points race title in July; an outstanding achievement and by far the best result of any junior this year. Photo by Tommaso Pelagalli-Sprint Cycling Agency
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Lucy Bénézet Minns | World Road Championships
Having taken 4th in the junior TT at the road Worlds last year, Bénézet Minns went into the 2024 Worlds in Zurich as a real medal hope in both the TT and road race. Though she fell short of those expectations, she was 10th in the road race and 13th in the TT; the latter on a flat course not suited to her.
Lucy Bénézet Minns | Watersley Ladies Challenge
Riding the first ever Nations Cup stage race an Irish team had ever been set to, Bénézet Minns claimed 2nd on the opening stage and 7th overall, supported by Aliyah Rafferty, Aine Doherty and Katie Murphy.
Aliyah Rafferty | Chrono des Nations Juniors
One of Ireland's top your prospects in any discipline, first-year junior Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active) ended the season by going to France for the Chrono des Nations TT. She took 4th place, underlining her potential at international level.
Lucy Bénézet Minns | National Road Championships
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Bénézet Minns went back to the road championships, in Limerick, this year the defending junior road race and TT champion and retained both of her titles. Her time in the TT would have won her the elite title on the day by over 30 seconds.
Aliyah Rafferty | Elite National Cyclocross Champs
Rafferty was just a matter of months into her junior career when she stepped up in the elite race at the National Cyclocross Championships to win the gold medal; an incredible performance.
Aliyah Rafferty | Watersley Ladies Challenge
Rafferty was part of the Irish team in the UCI Nations Cup stage race in the Netherlands in August, where one of the best international fields of the season was assembled. Her 7th place in the opening stage TT perhaps went under the radar a little, because her team mate was 2nd, but it was a performance of high quality.
Aine Doherty | Criterium National Championships
Another junior to step up at elite level this year, Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) claimed bronze on the National Criterium Championships in Banbridge in May behind winner Marine Lenehan (Dan Morrissey-Primór by Pissei) and runner-up Annalise Murphy (Longcourt Hotel-NCW Wheelers).
Kate Murphy | National Road Series
Murphy (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) made the Irish junior team this year for racing abroad and really showed her abilities on home roads in the Cycling Ireland National Road Series. She scored points in four of the six rounds - including 4th in two rounds - on her way to 5th overall and top junior. Photo by Sean Rowe
Mya Doocey | National Track Championships (Spellman-Dublin Port)
Mya Doocey (Spellman Dublin Port) was queen of the junior National Track Championships this year with three wins, in the sprint, 500 TT and scratch race.
Aliyah Rafferty | Newry Three Day
Rafferty ended the season top of the junior Cycling Ireland rankings, with her 2nd place on a stage, and in the overall, at the elite Newry Three Day aiding her cause.
