TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: World Road Championship Team

Twelve Riders to Compete at the Cycling World Championships in Doha

Cycling Ireland has named twelve riders to compete against the world’s best riders at the UCI 2016 Road World Championships in Doha, Qatar from the 10^th – 16^th October. The team is a mix of time trial specialists and road riders, who will compete across seven events. Ireland’s elite men’s team will feature Sam Bennett, Ryan Mullen and Matt Brammeier in the Road Race with Mullen and Nicolas Roche competing in the Time Trail. National Champion Anna Turvey will be representing Ireland in the Elite Women’s Time Trial as the sole female representative. This year the World Championships take place three weeks later than usual September date to coincide with lower temperatures and a drier forecast in the Middle East country.

The U23s will have Michael O’Loughlin and Eddie Dunbar flying the flag in both the Time Trial and the Road Race, with Daire Feeley and Matthew Teggart also competing in the Road Race, an event particularly suited to sprinters this year. After an impressive European Track and Road Championships Ireland are entering a young Junior Team with first year juniors Xeno Young and Ronan Tuomey competing in both the Road Race and Time Trial, and Jake Gray also starting in the Road Race.

“Doha will see a lot of fast races” said Cycling Ireland Technical Director Brian Nugent, who is anticipating a race that will favour the sprinters. “We have selected a team with strong riders across all categories, the profile for the courses are fairly flat, so there should be intense racing, which could come down to bunch sprints. The Time Trial courses will be fast too, and after a strong showing at the European Championships last month, we are hoping for some top performances from the team.”

Racing in Doha begins with the Time Trials from the 10^th – 12^th October, with the Road Races taking place from the 14^th – 16^th October.