Team Announcement UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles, USA
Cycling Ireland have confirmed that a team will be competing in the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles, USA, which takes place from the 2-5 March 2017. Martin Gordon and pilot Eamonn Byrne will be making their debut in the Men’s Tandem, competing in the Men’s B Tandem Sprint events. They will be supported by Mark Kiely as Team Manager.
At the Paralympic Games in Rio Ireland performed sensationally across the endurance events, winning five medals, including two Paralympic titles. The endurance riders are not participating in these Championships as they continue to build towards the Road Racing Season which starts with the 2017 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Maniago, Italy in May. The Championships run from Thursday 2nd March until Sunday 5th March.
Cycling Ireland Performance Coach Neill Delahaye is looking forward to the World Championships saying -
“We are very happy to be able to provide this opportunity to a new pairing for these World Championships. Most of our Paracycling success on the track has been with the endurance based events, but the success and dynamism of the Paracycling Programme in recent years means we have athletes involved who are showing potential in other areas such as sprinting.”
“Martin has been on the Development Squad for the last couple of years and this is a new partnership with Eamonn. They are an exciting prospect. Eamonn is an experienced and accomplished sprinter and with the sprint events back on the Tokyo Paralympic programme of events we are excited to see what they can do. “
This is the first time that a World Track Championships for Para-cycling has been held in the post-Paralympic season, and this is the first competition for the Irish team since the Paralympic Games in Rio. It will take place in the Velo Sports Centre Velodrome, Los Angeles, USA from the 2nd – 5th March.