This weekend Irish Paracyclists embark on the first UCI Para Road World Cup in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. For many of the riders this is an opportunity to gain points for Paralympic selection. Ireland has qualified four male bikes and two female bike for the Paralympic Games in Rio next September. In July the selection for these positions will be announced. 


Speaking from South Africa National Performance Coach Neill Delahaye said "All the riders competing this weekend are members of the Invacare Development Squad, and have been competing at home and around Europe over the past number of years. It's a real testament to the motivation and hard work of these athletes and the support of the Paracycling Commission and Invacare that we have so many bikes attending this World Cup. Pietermaritzburg is also set to host the UCI 2017 Paracycling Road World Championships, so it has been a good opportunity to see the environment and conditions here first hand." 


Follow the event HERE


The Irish riders who are competing this weekend are: 


Jerry Towey C4

Liam Cullinane T2

Peter Ryan & Sean Hahessy MB

Damien Vereker & Marcin Mizgajski MB 

Martin Gordon & Ian Inglis MB

Ciara Staunton H2

Declan Slevin H3

Seamus Wall H4





Best of luck also to the women's tandem of Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal competing in the Belgium Tandem Stage Race this weekend.  Follow them on twitter handle @e_murphy93

Stage one on Thursday saw them win comprehensively, coming in ahead of the Brits and the Dutch bikes who beat them at the Road World Championships last year.