High Performance Pathway Programme Riders Announced for 2026

Cycling Ireland is pleased to announce five riders are entering the High Performance Pathway Programme for 2026.

Two BMX riders will feature on this year’s Pathway in Carly Hayes and Reuben Byrne. The addition of BMX riders in this year’s pathway comes off the back of hard work and dedication from both riders and their support networks over the last number of years, and a dedication from Cycling Ireland to assist in the development of riders from a range of disciplines, as outlined in the High Performance Strategy released earlier this year.

The Cycling Ireland High Performance Unit has contracted a BMX specific coach to work with Hayes and Byrne, while Martyn Irvine and Stuart Balfour will take the lead on track and road coaching.

Hayes has already cut her teeth racing abroad, getting strong results across Europe and the UK. Based in Tallaght, Dublin, she claimed 13th in her class at this year's World Championships and with the support of the Performance Pathway Programme is well placed to take the next step in her career.

Byrne comes into the programme off a year that saw him take sixth in his category at European Championships, and like Hayes will look to push into more top-level competition with the support of the programme moving into 2026.

Emer Heverin enters the programme off the back of an incredibly strong 2025 that saw her take seventh in the TT at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje, North Macedonia, first at the North West Youth Tour and 3rd at the Youth Tour of Scotland. 2026 will see Heverin take on more international road races as well as stepping up to international track competition with the support of the programme.

Hugh Óg Mulhearne returns as a second year Junior, on the heels of a 2025 in which he featured in an Irish jersey at the European Road Championships and won the Charleville 2-Day race. Mulhearne will look to build on a strong first year as he prepares to make the step up into the Under 23 ranks at the end of 2026.

James Logue comes into the programme as a first year junior, with podiums at the Youth Road and Track National Championships in 2025. Having shown significant strides forward in his development in 2025, joining the programme should help Logue’s development further as he enters the junior ranks.

High Performance Pathway Programme Lead Stuart Balfour welcomed the five riders, and outlined the long term vision for the programme:

“The programme is evolving this year with the introduction of in-house coaching, creating a more integrated and comprehensive support system for riders. This change allows us to provide consistent day-to-day coaching alongside enhanced services from the Sport Ireland Institute, including strength and conditioning, nutrition, psychology, and physiology support.

"This step reflects Cycling Ireland’s commitment to investing in rider progression and widening the disciplines of support, ensuring athletes across road, track, BMX, and beyond have access to the resources they need. Beyond physical preparation, the programme delivers education through workshops and ongoing guidance, equipping riders with the knowledge and tools to prepare for long-term success.

"Our long-term vision is clear: to establish a seamless pathway from youth into elite, preparing riders not just for immediate performance but for sustainable careers at the highest level. Through personalised coaching, holistic development, and targeted support, we aim to build resilience, technical expertise, and performance habits that will serve athletes throughout their careers.

"Ultimately, this approach is about creating a strong talent pipeline for future champions. By investing deeply in our riders now and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence, we are laying the foundation for Irish cyclists to consistently compete at the very top of the sport.”

While these riders will receive direct support and tailored coaching from Cycling Ireland through the Pathway, they will not be alone in receiving support or representing Ireland in competition. As in previous years, a large number of riders will be invited to race and attend training camps to assist in their development, alongside their clubs, teams and personal coaches.

A group of 20 Junior and Under 23 riders, from road and track backgrounds are this week on a training camp in Calpe, Spain, with preparation well underway for their 2026 season.

This year marks a shift towards a more targeted level of support for riders on the programme. By individualising the approach for each athlete, we’re ensuring they receive the most relevant and impactful support for their specific needs. This enables our staff coaches to have greater influence on rider development, integrating coaching with performance planning & services and education to create a connected and consistent environment. Coaching for Track, Road and MTB XCO has been taken in-house.

This culture shift has meant that a number of athletes offered a place on the programme have not come on board. We respect those decisions and will continue to co-ordinate and communicate with all athletes exhibiting high potential. Due to less coaching experience in BMX amongst HPU Coaches, there was a need to ensure World Class discipline specificity in coaching expertise. As such, the 2 BMX riders will be supported by an expert BMX Coach, Quillan Isidore. The goal is to help all programme riders progress both on and off the bike, equipping them with the tools and guidance needed for long-term success at the highest level.