Huge number of Irish riders set to race for UCI teams in 2025

*Ben Healy is one of over 30 Irish riders who will race with UCI team this year; WorldTour, ProConti and Continental (Photo: Elias Rom)*

The domestic racing scene may be in need of some revival - with numbers having flagged since the pandemic - and hopefully things will pick up this year. But on the international front, Ireland has never had a deeper pool of talent.

And it's across both men's and women's racing, and across the categories; from junior to U23 and elite racing. Indeed, a look down this list of riders competing with UCI teams this year really brings home the sheer number of Irish cyclists who have secured places with top squads for 2025.

We have 11 riders competing for World Tour of ProConti teams - which is enormous in itself for Irish cycling, which has often heavily depended on a very small number of riders competing at the highest level. And when it comes to UCI Continental teams, the number of Irish riders competing at that level has exploded.

There are 24 riders - that we could find - riding for Continental teams for this year. And with a total of 35 Irish cyclists riding for World Tour, ProConti and Continental teams combined, Irish cycling will be better represented than ever.

It is, of course, possible that we've overlooked somebody, given the sheer size of this group. And if we have, we'll add those riders. This list also does not include Irish cyclists - junior and senior - riding for elite/trade teams in Europe.

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One of the really exciting features is the quality of the Irish riders now racing at highest level, with Grand Tour stage winners Sam Bennett, Eddie Dunbar and Ben Healy among the group. Meanwhile, emerging younger riders such as Lara Gillespie, Darren Rafferty and Archie Ryan can be looked to for race wins this year.

And at Continental level we've seen the addition of several very promising juniors from 2024 moving straight into UCI-ranked teams for their first season as U23s this year. They include Seth Dunwoody, Lucy Minns Bénézet, Sam Coleman, Patrick Casey and Killian O'Brien.

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