Cycling Ireland has opened the process of selecting a team for the upcoming UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Liévin, France, in three weeks. The national federation has said it is “essential” riders seeking selection have demonstrated they are competitive in UCI-ranked races.
Furthermore, Cycling Ireland is under no obligation to fill all of the slots available to Irish riders. It said the performance level of the riders must satisfy the selection criteria if they want to make the national team.
Last year three riders were selected for the Worlds – Conor Murphy, Dean Harvey and Greta Lawless. Based on the criteria for this year, it appears Cycling Ireland is raising the bar again for the 2025 world title races.
However, though Ireland had only one rider in three races last year – male U23, male junior, female junior – it is open to Cycling Ireland to pick several cyclists for each race in France, including the men’s and women’s elite events.
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The ‘expressions of interest’ process is now open for those riders who want to be considered. They must complete the form available at this link before midnight this Sunday, January 12th, meaning is essential to get moving immediately.
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Cycling Ireland has listed three “selection aims” for picking the team:
- Riders that are competitive for top 10
- Riders that are capable of benefitting from this exposure to UCI World Championship CX racing towards being podium competitive in the future at UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships within a four-year period
- Riders that have evidenced performance standards and progression this 2024-2025 cyclocross Season, in UCI ranked events – at home and abroad. Demonstrated competitiveness in UCI ranked events is essential
After the expressions of interest deadline expires, an information gathering meeting and selection panel meeting will take place next week.
Cycling Ireland said it would then, within 24 hours, seek to contact all the riders who expressed their interest in being selected.
It added riders were responsible for providing full information about themselves when expressing their interest. Any information not included could not be considered by those picking the team.
Best of luck to all those in contention.
