There was great news for sponsorship of emerging cycling talent in Ireland today with the news that the Emerlad Cycling Fund had received support from Quanta Capital.
The fund was launched back in 2015 with the aim of helping the next generation of Irish riders become professionals.
Last year, the funded riders were Mark Downey who was based in France racing in the colours on CC Etupes and James Curry who was based in Besancon in France racing in the colours of AC Bisontine.
Downey had an incredible season on both the road and track. In the 2016-2017 UCI Track World Cup, he won a gold medal in the Points Race in both the Cali and Apeldoorn rounds. He also won a gold medal in the Madison in the Los Angeles round where he partnered with Felix English. On the road, he took three top ten placings in stages of the Tour de l’Avenir prior to finishing in 9th place at the U23 World Road Race Championships in Bergen.
20 year-old Curry meanwhile had a number of top-15 placings in France during the season including at the Tour du Canton de Wittenheim, Jura Nord-Fraisans and Prix Jura Nord.
Speaking about the news today, Mel Sutcliffe, C.E.O. of Quanta Capital said: ‘I am delighted, as C.E.O. of Quanta Capital, to be able to support the Emerald Fund in 2018. To be able to play a part in supporting the next generation of Irish professionals is wonderful. I wish all the riders the very best for 2018’.
Applications for funding for 2018 have now also opened. Please click on the following link for all information on applying for funding for 2018: http://emeraldfund.ie/funding/
