Next week the Irish Para-cycling Team will be competing in the UCI 2017 Para-cycling Road World Championships in Pietermartizburg, South Africa. The event will run from the 31st August to the 3rd September, with thirteen Irish cyclists competing across twenty-one championship events. This is the largest Irish team to compete in a World Championships in recent years, with qualification based on superb results from the Irish team throughout the 2016 season.
Following a formidable showing at the Paralympic Games in Rio, the Irish Para-cycling Team switched their focus to the 2017 road season, with their sights set on the World Championships in South Africa. The team represents a mix of experienced, accomplished riders and new development names, with the majority of the 2016 Paralympian’s named on the World Championship team.
Speaking ahead of the World Championships Cycling Ireland Performance Coach Neill Delahaye is satisfied with the progress of the team, with the women’s tandem becoming World Cup overall winners this season, and Colin Lynch being dominant in the Time Trials. Delahaye is looking forward to the start of the competition:
“We are hoping to build on the World Cup season where everyone performed well. Everyone is enjoying racing again after Rio. Of course, the World Championships will be a bigger a stage, where all the nations are keen to get performances. We are excited to be racing again at this level, and hope they can do as well in the World Cups.”
Delahaye noted that the hillier terrain in Pietermaritzburg adds an unknown element for the team: “The Time Trial course will present a different challenge to the World Cups, it is more technical and hilly, and it will bring something different to the table. All the Time Trials at the World Cups were pan flat. It will be a more sporting course.”
The team will see three new names on the Irish team with Ronan Grimes (MC4), Seamus Wall (MH3) and Andrew Nicholson (MC4) also competing, and for the first time Ireland will be competing in the Handcycling Relay event:
“This is a post games year, so we are delighted to have three development riders competing, and getting an opportunity to race in the World Championships. While we have an established group, we are always building for the future, and delighted to give them the opportunity.”
At the Paralympic Games in Rio, the Irish Para-cycling team achieved phenomenal results with five medals, including two Paralympic Time Trial Titles, courtesy of Eoghan Clifford and the tandem pairing of Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal. Colin Lynch won a silver medal in the MC2 Time Trial in Rio; Dunlevy and McCrystal took silver in the Rio Road Race, and Clifford was the bronze medallist in the MC3 Individual Pursuit.
The Para-cycling Road World Championships runs from the 31st August – 3rd September, with Irish riders competing on each day. The first riders in competition will be Declan Slevin, Ciara Staunton and Seamus Wall in the Handcycling Time Trials.
Irish Team for 2017 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships
Team
Eoghan Clifford (MC3)
Colin Lynch (MC2)
Declan Slevin (MH3)
Ciara Staunton (WH2)
Peter Ryan (MB) with pilot Sean Hahessy
Damien Vereker (MB) with pilot Dermot Radford
Katie George Dunlevy (WB) with pilot Eve McCrystal
Seamus Wall (MH4)
Ronan Grimes (MC4)
Andrew Nicholson (MC4)
Support Team
Neill Delahaye (Coach)
Tommy McGowan (Manager)
Eoin Murphy (Mechanic)
Catherine Simpson (Physio)
Shaun Emslie (Assistant)
Andrea Radford (Assistant)
Phelim Lynch (Assistant)
Schedule of events (approximate times)
Thursday 31st August
10:00 Womens H2 Time Trial - Ciara Staunton
13:20 Mens H4 Time Trial - Seamus Wall
14:00 Mens H3 Time Trial - Declan Slevin
Friday 1st September
09:15 Mens C3 Time Trial - Eoghan Cliford
09:30 Mens C2 Time Trial - Colin Lynch
13:10 Mens B Time Trial - Peter Ryan & Sean Hahessy
13:20 Mens B Time Trial - Damien Vereker & Dermot Radford
13:45 Womens B Time Trial - Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal
15:00 Mens C4 Time Trial - Ronan Grimes
15:00 Mens C4 Time Trial - Andrew Nicholson
Saturday 2nd September
08:00 Womens H2 Road Race - Ciara Staunton
10:00 Mens H4 Road Race - Seamus Wall
15:02 Mens H3 Road Race - Declan Slevin
Sunday 3rd September
08:00 Mens C3 Road Race - Eoghan Cliford
08:00 Mens C2 Road Race - Colin Lynch
10:30 Mens C4 Road Race - Ronan Grimes
10:30 Mens C4 Road Race - Andrew Nicholson
13:45 Mens B Road Race - Peter Ryan & Sean Hahessy
13:45 Mens B Road Race - Damien Vereker & Dermot Radford
13:45 Womens B Road Race - Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal
16:45 Hand cycle relay - Declan Slevin, Seamus Wall & Ciara Staunton
There will be live tv coverage of all four days of racing at www.uci.ch
