Ireland and Belgium lead the charge into the men's and women's races at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dublin this Sunday with 17 riders from each nation - more than any other - set to compete in the mud of the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown.
While there is a two-rider Irish team in the women's race and a three-man national team in the men's event, 12 other Irish riders are also getting a chance to take on the world's best in the World Cup. Those 12 have been selected by Cycling Ireland and will compete in their own team or club kits.
Ireland and Belgium will have, by far, the biggest representation in the main events this weekend, with 17 riders apiece across the men's and women's races. Next comes the all-conquering Netherlands, with 12 riders across the two fields. They are followed by Great Britain (7 riders), and then three riders each for Spain, France and Switzerland while Luxembourg will have one rider in Dublin.
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All of those in the men's and women's races apart from the two-man Irish team and three-rider woman's team will compete for their trade teams or their clubs.
The women's Irish team is comprised of national cyclocross champion Maria Larkin (Donkey Label p/b FK Law) and Róisín Lally (Loughborough Lightning). The other riders selected to compete include Michelle Geoghegan (VeloRevolution), a World Cup veteran who has raced the European cyclocross scene in recent years and has finished 2nd twice in the Irish championships.
Darcey Harkness (VC Glendale), who rode the U23 Europeans last year on the Irish team, is also selected as are the Roche sisters, Stephanie and Annie, both Scott Bright Motor Group, as well as Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers) and Niamh Stephens (Team Giant Dublin).
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In the men's race, the Irish team is comprised of Dean Harvey (Spellman Dublin Port), Chris McGlinchey (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus) and Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles). Harvey, still aged just 19 years, has been the man of the season on the domestic scene so far. Having excelled on the road in 2022, his first season as an U23, he has been snapped up for next year by the Trinity Racing Continental team.
McGlinchey is the reigning national cyclocross champion and Moore is the former champion. Both men are proven performers on the big day and it will be interesting to see how they, and Harvey, perform against the biggest fish on Sunday.
As well as those three on the Irish team for Sunday, to face the likes of Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), are six other Irish riders, including Sean Nolan. The EvoPro Racing man has been competing in Belgium in recent weeks. And while he has had some bad luck, he is no stranger to major international cyclocross fixtures having ridden the Worlds last season.
Also selected is Richard Barry, the St Finbarr's CC rider who has been in great form on the Munster scene so far this year. Dillon Corkery, the Irish road international and former elite national criterium champion riding this 'cross season for Verge Pi-Cycles, is also in the field.
One of the most seasoned campaigners on the road scene, and a very solid cyclocross performer, strongman Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) also gets the nod to compete this weekend, and is normally a team mate of Harvey's.
Jamie Meehan, who claimed bronze in the junior road race at the National Road Championships last year, makes it three for Spellman Dublin Port in the men's race on Sunday. Frank McDermott of Oldcastle CC completes the Irish line-up in the men's race; the Meath man impressing on the domestic scene this year.
For the full start lists for Sunday's World Cup races, and a run through the international star names, please follow this link.
