Cycling Ireland has named twelve riders to compete at the UCI 2016 Road World Championships in Doha, Qatar from the 10th – 16th October.
The team is a mix of time trial specialists and road riders, who will compete across seventeen events. Ireland’s elite men’s team will feature Sam Bennett, Ryan Mullen and Matt Brammeier in the Road Race with Mullen and Nicolas Roche competing in the Time Trial. National Champion Anna Turvey will be representing Ireland in the Elite Women’s Time Trial as the sole female representative.
This year the World Championships take place three weeks later than usual September date to coincide with lower temperatures and a drier forecast in the Middle East country.
The U23s will have Michael O’Loughlin and Eddie Dunbar flying the flag in both the Time Trial and the Road Race, with Daire Feeley and Matthew Teggart also competing in the Road Race, an event particularly suited to sprinters this year.
After an impressive European Track and Road Championships Ireland are entering a young Junior Team with first year juniors Xeno Young and Ronan Tuomey competing in both the Road Race and Time Trial, and Jake Gray also starting in the Road Race.
“Doha will see a lot of fast races” said Cycling Ireland Technical Director Brian Nugent, who is anticipating a race that will favour the sprinters. “We have selected a team with strong riders across all categories, the profile for the courses are fairly flat, so there should be intense racing, which could come down to bunch sprints. The Time Trial courses will be fast too, and after a strong showing at the European Championships last month, we are hoping for some top performances from the team.”
Racing in Doha begins with the Time Trials from the 10th – 12th October, with the Road Races taking place from the 14th – 16th October.
Yet again Women not being sent. there are 3 RR and 2 TT places available for them. What does Lydia Boylan have to do??
What is Anna Turvey doing that Lydia isn’t ? Nothing.
I’ve no issue with Anna Turvey going but she shouldn’t be the only woman when there are places available and riders who’ve earned them. There really needs to be more transparency in the process.
Neither have I, I’m delighted she’s going, 2 tt spots and 3 rr spots and all accommadation being paid for by the organiser………..but na let’s concentrate on the pursuit team.
I’m sick of it now. Fucking joke
What about Dan Martin
Andrew Anderson course doesn’t suit him.
What about Mark Downey well deservers his place.
We all know someone who should have been included and justifiably so but one name I’m surprised isn’t on the list is young Chris McGlinchey. The lad has no backing like the other names both mentioned in comments and on the list. And as with the other comments, why no focus on more female riders?