Cycling Ireland is hoping to increase the size of the pool of riders competing on the national track team, with the next Olympics in mind, in a bid to ensure more intense internal competition for places on national teams.
While the upcoming European Track Championships will be the first major international track meeting after Olympic year, the race is already on for the national federation to get as many riders to the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
And though the riders that make up the women's team pursuit line-up have been at the forefront of Ireland's efforts in recent years, the drive is now on to progress other riders and widen the talent pool in the mix for international selection.
"With the Paris Olympics firmly in the rear-view mirror, we approach the 2025 UEC Elite Track Euros with the ambition to kickstart our preparation for LA 2028," said national track coach Dan Henchy.
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"For established riders, we’re looking to build a track record of success, in a sense we need to consolidate winning habits.
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"For riders newer to the track, we’re looking to accelerate their development so that we can increase our internal competition and be ready for a strong start to Games Qualification in 2027.
"Our selection aims reflect this, with the intention to take a team to compete for medals, while also providing opportunity for promising riders to get a first elite track championship experience."
The Europeans take place at the new Heusden-Zolder velodrome in Belgium from February 12th to 18th and Cycling Ireland is now opening the 'expressions of interest' process for those riders who want to put themselves forward for selection.
"The velodrome in Heusden-Zolder is a relatively new facility but we’ve already held national team training camps there on several occasions," said Henchy.
"The elite Euros will be the first championship event hosted at the venue, but it’s set to be a regular feature on the international calendar, with several high-level events already confirmed for the next few years.
"We’re very much looking forward to competing there and are looking forward to fielding a strong Irish team to build on the success of the previous Olympic cycle.”
