Cycling Ireland head coach Brian Nugent said he’s always on the lookout for new riders to fit into the national track squad – but stressed there is much criteria to be met before a rider is drafted in.
By Brian Canty
Cycling Ireland head coach Brian Nugent has stressed that age is no barrier when it comes to selecting riders for the national senior track squad, adding the federation is always on the lookout to bring in new riders.
Marc Potts was brought into the set-up following the An Post Rás to boost a rather threadbare-looking senior team.
And if he performs well in upcoming training camps it’s likely he’ll be in the line-up for a packed schedule of racing UCI World Cups around the world next winter.
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Nugent spent time at the Rás last month running the rule over certain riders, but only Potts was given the call-up, despite some excellent displays from the likes of Simon Ryan, Damien Shaw, Brian McCrystal and of course, Ian Richardson.
“There's no upper limit,” said Nugent when asked whether age is a factor in making selections, but not specifically referencing any riders.
At times it seems like the same riders are picked again and again, from junior to elite and on track and road, for Ireland. But the national federation has said the door is always open, with the ability to commit to the required lifestyle a key factor (Photo: Sean Rowe)
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“The issue is that if you come through a system from a young age, this becomes your profession and you adapt your lifestyle, so it's much easier (to manage) that way.
“For example, the younger riders join with fewer commitments that will stop them from committing to the travel and so on.
“The longer that’s delayed, the more your lifestyle has probably changed and most guys in their late 20's and early 30's have huge commitments with family and mortgages.
"(They) literally can't go to race around the world for nine months a year without getting a salary or funding straight away.
“The tricky part is no one will pay you for at least two or three years until you have proven yourself, therefore it's harder to get into the cycle at that stage.
“We need guys with the ability, the ability to commit and a willingness to go through the process. Not everyone fits that criteria.”
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