The 2017 EYOF will take place in Gyor, Hungary from July 23rd to 29th, 2017. There will be two disciplines, time trial and road race.
Cycling Ireland may nominate up to 3 male plus one non-travelling reserve and up to 3 female riders plus one non-travelling reserve to the Olympic Council of Ireland for selection. Cycling Ireland reserves the right to nominate less than that number if it is felt that the riders are not of the standard required to be competitive at the EYOF.
Eligibility:
· The European Youth Olympic Festival is open to boys and girls born in 2001 or 2002 only.
· Those nominated must satisfy any eligibility criteria established by the Olympic Council of Ireland.
· To be nominated, riders must sign squad agreements as outlined in the Cycling Ireland Long Term Athlete Development Pathway i.e., Talent Team or National Youth Academy on or before 5th May 2017.
· Be in possession of a full IRISH passport that is valid until at least February 2018.
· Satisfy all UCI eligibility, nationality and LOC participation rules.
· Be a registered member of Cycling Ireland.
· Remain in “good standing” with Cycling Ireland and at all times comply with the established code of conduct or athlete agreement and otherwise conduct themselves in a way that does not bring their sport or the National Team into disrepute.
Selection criteria:
Performances of both boys and girls in the following youth events will form the basis of selection:
|
Selection
Races (All TBC) |
|
1. Rás Maigheo Stages 1 (Time trial) and
2 (Road race) 11th March, Westport (Covey Wheelers) |
|
2. Stage 1 of Rás na nÓg, 1st
April, (Bellewstown (Drogheda Wheelers) |
|
3. PJ Logan Memorial, Coalisland 26th
March (Island Wheelers) |
|
4. Stages 1 (Road race) & 2 (Time
Trial) Kanturk 2 Day, 29th & 30th April 2017, Kanturk (O’ Leary Stone Kanturk
CC) |
For the boys, a shortlisted group of up to 6 riders may be taken to
Belgium on the weekend of 20th/21st May as a final
qualifier. This will be decided on 1st May, 2017 by the selectors.
Selections will be made based on the following criteria that shall constitute ‘performance' for the purpose of selection:
1. Finish positions for mass-start races and time trials (as well as absolute finishing position, consideration will be given to relative finish positions, i.e., has a rider finished within two seconds or two minutes of the winner?);
2. Attacking riding – ability to make repeated efforts;
3. Bike handling ability – cornering skills, bunch riding ability etc.;
4. Tactical awareness – ability to infiltrate breaks, read a race etc.
5. An expectation that riders selected in the separate boys and girls categories will have demonstrated the ability to finish within 10% of the winner’s time in the Westport and Ulster time trials.
6. An expectation that girls selected will have demonstrated the ability to finish within 20% of the boys’ performances in both time trials i.e., the first girl will finish within 20% of the time of the first boy, the second girl will finish within 20% of the time of the second boy and the third girl will finish within 20% of the time of the third boy.
7. As the EYOF consists of two events, a road race and time trial, a weighting of 50% will be given to the results in the two time trial selection races.
Selection will be made by panels of two selectors, chaired by Cycling Ireland Board Member John Horgan during the week commencing 29th May 2017. The selectors are Nicola McKiverigan and Gillian McDarby (Girls) and Martin O’ Loughlin and Dan Curtin (Boys).
Notes:
· Selectors will consider performances in each individual event, taking into account the above key selection points. For time trials the absolute result and time gaps are taken as indicative of a rider’s bike handling ability, tactical awareness etc.
· Selectors may, in exceptional circumstances, select a male and/or a female “wildcard” rider who, through mishap or illness, has not featured in some or all of the selection races. Any such wildcard rider must be demonstrably of a standard at least similar to the other three riders (including reserve) selected.
· Only standard bikes with spoked wheels and maximum rim depth of 60mm will be permitted for all events. This is similar to the requirement as per Cycling Ireland’s rule T4.A1.3 that “bicycles used in time trial events must be as per road race regulations.”, i.e., no specialist low profile bicycles, time trial bars or fixed wheel bicycles are permitted. Aero time trial helmets are forbidden, but aero road helmets e.g., Giro Air Attacks are permitted. Riders are strongly advised to consult the race commissaire if they are unsure about their helmets. The 60mm rim depth is an EYOF-specific rule.
Appeal Process:
Appeals must be:
· made by persons demonstrably of a standard to make the EYOF team.
· only made on the grounds that the selection policy was not followed in accordance with the principles of natural justice.
· made to the Technical Director of Cycling Ireland within 24 hours of the team being named, and accompanied with a fee of €200, the Technical Director will then instigate Cycling Ireland’s appeal process.