UEC Downhill European Championship Preview
A large Irish presence takes to the track at the UEC Downhill European Championships when racing gets underway in Champéry, Swizterland this weekend.
Ronan Dunne will look to continue his fantastic 2024 form, having
won a UCI World Cup event in Poland, as well as RedBull Hardline events in
Wales and Tasmania. The 2023 Irish National Downhill Champion will be joined in
the Men’s Elite category by World Cup regulars Ross Ennis and Henry Kerr.
Caolan Sammon, who saw a mechanical take him out of contention in this years National
Championships, will round out the Irish contingent in this category.
2024 Junior Downhill National Champion, and more recently Under 21
Enduro National Champion Callum Morris will represent Ireland in the Junior
Category. Morris will be joined by Alex Hickey, who impressed with a top 25
placing in the Under 19 category at the iXS European Cup Second Round in
Leinzerheide in June.
Sammon and Hickey’s young FloGas Racing teammate, Ros O’Keefe,
will take to the track in the Under 17 category.
Joining him will be Cailan Lancashire and Darragh Ryan, both hoping to
carry strong domestic form onto the European stage.
The Under 15 Category will feature two Irish riders in Diarmuid O’Sealbhaigh
and Jamie Kennedy.
Ireland will also have representation in the Masters
Categories. Dale McMullan and Michael Cowan will race in the 45-49 Category.
Michael White will be Ireland’s sole competitor in the 60-64 Category.
Riders get their first look at the 1.52km track for practice
on Friday, 9th of August, with practice and seeding taking place on
Saturday and finals taking place on Sunday, 11th of August.
Live Timing for Sunday’s racing will be available here.