The Cycling Ireland team has been announced for the UCI 2018 Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy from the 2nd – 5th August. Six bikes will compete across twelve events over the four days of action.
Reigning World Champions in the Women’s B Tandem Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal, will be competing in the time trial on Friday 3rd August, and in the road race on Sunday 5th August with the aim of defending their titles.
The Irish women are on the right track, standing on the podium at both World Cups this year. Dunlevy competed with Jennifer Bates at the last World Cup in Emmen, winning a silver and a bronze medal.
The duo of Peter Ryan and Séan Hahessy will be competing, they finished fourth in the time trial at the last World Cup in Emmen, and fifth in the road race, and sixth in the previous World Cup in Belgium. The tandem of Damien Vereker and Dermot Radford are also in action.
Paralympic silver medallist Colin Lynch will be competing in the Men’s C2 races, and Ronan Grimes in the Men’s C4 categories. Grimes won a bronze medal in the first World Cup of the year in Ostend, Belgium, in May.
Paralympian Declan Slevin will be the sole handcyclist in action in Maniago and will be the first rider to compete at the World Championships, in the 13.6km Time Trial on Thursday 2nd August.
Speaking ahead of the championships Cycling Ireland Performance Coach, Neill Delahaye, is looking forward to some tough competition –
“We are expecting a very high level at this year’s UCI Paracyling Road Worlds in Maniago. Most Nations have stepped up their programmes this year in the hunt for Tokyo qualification points. This competition will see the culmination of a lot of that focused effort. We are anticipating every race to be hard fought and we are ready for the challenge.
The team have prepared well. National Records and PBs have been set in the last couple of weeks. The riders are fit and looking forward to getting out there and delivering their best against the best in the world.”
The National Team is:
Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal
Peter Ryan & Séan Hahessy
Damien Vereker & Dermot Radford
Colin Lynch
Ronan Grimes
Declan Slevin
SCHEDULE:
Thursday 2nd August – Time Trial
16:00 Men’s MH3 13.6km
Declan Slevin
Friday 3rd August – Time Trial
09:00 Men’s C2 13.6km
Colin Lynch
14:30 Men’s B Tandem 27.2km
Peter Ryan & Séan Hahessy
Damien Vereker & Dermot Radford
15:30 Men’s C4 27.2km
Ronan Grimes
17:00 Women’s B Tandem 27.2km
Katie-George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal
Saturday 4th August Road Races
15:45 Men’s MH3 68km
Declan Slevin
Sunday 5th August Road Races
08:00 Men’s C4 81.6km
Ronan Grimes
08:02 Men’s C2 68km
Colin Lynch
14:30 Men’s B Tandem 108.8km
Peter Ryan & Séan Hahessy
Damien Vereker & Dermot Radford
14:32 Women’s B Tandem 81.6km
Katie-George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal