Last year Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly successfully defended their World Championship title at the UCI Para-cycling World Championships in Ronse, Belgium
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Para-cycling Squad Announced Ahead of Upcoming UCI Road World Cups
Cycling Ireland names para-cycling athletes to represent Ireland at the two upcoming UCI Para-cycling Road World Cups. Riders will start their campaign in Belgium, from April 28th to May 1st, following this they will head to Italy, from 7th to the 10th of May.
Both events will see a strong Irish contingent racing in both the Road Race and Time Trial events, including reigning World and Paralympic Champion Katie-George Dunlevy, piloted by Linda Kelly. These Road World Cup mark the beginning of the qualification process for the 2028 Paralympic Games.
It will not just be Ireland’s elite Para-cyclists racing. In line with continued growth and development, a number of para-cyclists from the Development squad will also be racing. As Irish para-cycling continues to flourish, these Road World Cup events mark the start of what is likely to be another exciting season.
Speaking about the upcoming World Cups, Cycling Ireland National Para-cycling Coach Jamie Blanchfield said:
"We’re pleased to announce the team for the upcoming World Cups, which mark the first phase of qualification for the next Paralympic Games. It’s an important step in the new cycle, providing an early opportunity to benchmark ourselves internationally and continue building momentum for the year ahead.”
Marcin Mizgajski, Para-cycling Development Coach added:
“For the Development riders, this selection is a testament to their individual resilience and the strength of the environment we’ve fostered. Para-cycling World Cup in Belgium and Italy represents the next level of their evolution, and I couldn’t be prouder to see our development philosophy reach the world stage.
“Sending this team to the World Cup’s isn’t just about a race entry; it’s the physical manifestation of the pathway we set out to build two years ago. Seeing these development riders progress from their first sessions with me to the biggest stage in the sport proves that when you trust the process and invest in the person, the performance follows. We’re going to Belgium and Italy to compete, but we’ve already won by proving that our system works.”
Athlete Selection for UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in Gistel, Belgium
Elite Team:
Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly (WB)
Damien Vereker and Mitchell McLaughlin (MB)
Richael Timothy (WC3)
Development Team:
Steven McGowan (MH3)
Alliser McSorley (MH4)
Cormac O’Callaghan (MC1)
Heather Jameson (WC2)
Ciaran O’Toole and Conal Scully (MB)
Sinead Greenan and Alice Sharpe (WB)
Athlete selection for UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in Abruzzo, Italy
Elite Team:
Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly (WB)
Damien Vereker and Mitchell McLaughlin (MB)
Richael Timothy (WC3)
Development Team:
Ciaran O’Toole and Richard Barry (MB)
Jessica Kennedy and Alice Sharpe (WB)
Cormac O’Callaghan (MC1)
Allister MacSorely (MH4)
Stephen McGowan (MH3)
Following the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup a number of riders on the Development Squad will compete at the Hetman Stage Race in Poland, from May 14th – 17th.
Development Team:
Ciaran O’Toole and Conor Coleman (MB)
Ben Cussen and Richard Barry (MB)
Sinead Greenan and Claire Ni Reachtagain (WB)
Cormac O’Callaghan (MC1)
Allister MacSorely (MH4)
Heater Jameson (WC2)