Programme for 2016 Announced As Junior Squad Launched



Cycling Ireland has announced the Junior Squad for 2016 at an initial training camp at the Sports HQ in Abbotstown, Dublin today. The sixteen rider team will have a long term goal of the European Road and Track Championships, and the focus for the squad is on developing the whole rider. Cycling Ireland National Junior Coach Frank O’Leary outlined an exciting programme of training and racing which has a strong holistic approach in order to prepare riders for world level competition.



The launch of the team incorporated a two hour training ride before an outline of the training and racing programme was presented by O’Leary to the junior riders and their parents. The importance of developing the whole rider was emphasised. O’Leary said:



“It’s our job to develop people to reach their potential so in the future they can race at Olympic Games, or in the Pro Ranks. We do this by providing exposure to international races, but also by teaching young riders how to perform on international teams, how to work within High Performance Teams. It is not just about speed and fitness, but how you manage yourself. We develop a world class approach on all levels; fitness, life style, race tactics and event preparation.”



The training and racing programme outlined by O’Leary combines both road and track racing, with the long term goal set as the European Championships, both Track and Road and Time Trial. While the major championships will have preparation camps based in Mallorca, the first part of the year will focus on development in Ireland based camps and races. However, the focus in races will be on development. O’Leary said:



“The spring time races will not just be results focused. They are based on developing the rider and developing skills. The progress of the riders will be monitored in a variety of ways, through Watt Bike testing, notational analysis (where progress is analysed by both the rider and coach), and the rider’s form.”



First on the agenda for the Junior Team is a training camp at the Sundrive Velodrome next weekend, on Saturday 6th February.



TEAM:


Male Riders:

Aaron Kearney (NRPT)

Adam Stenson (NRPT)

Ben Walsh (Westport Covey Wheelers)

Cameron McIntyre (NRPT)

Cathal Purcell (Carrick Wheelers)

Dion McCarthy (NRPT)

Jake Gray (NRPT)

Luke Smith (NRPT)

Marc Heaney (NRPT)

Robert O’Leary (Cork Giant Team)

Tom Knight (NRPT)

Xeno Young (Powerhouse Sport)



Female Riders:

Ciara Doogan (UCD)

Eimear Harrison (Westport Covey Wheelers)

Emily Birchall (NRPT)

Shenna McKiverigan (Powerhouse Sport)



Coach:

Frank O’Leary