Full Team Announced for European Road Race and Time Trial Cycling Championships

A full Irish team has been announced in advance of the European Championships which take place in the Netherlands between the 9th and 12th August. Ireland will be fielding riders across all categories in the Road Race and Time Trial, with the team being a mixture of experienced medal contenders and new talents.

The seven strong U23 men's team includes many of Ireland's top names, and is one of the strongest teams fielded by Ireland in an international competition in many years. All team members will race in the Road Race with Dunne, Buggle and Downey also entered in the Time Trial. Preparation for the Championships includes the Kreiz Breizh 3 day UCI 2.2 race in France, where an Irish team will race this weekend, including four of the named riders for the European Championships, along with Philip Lavery who will be racing for his team Node 4 Girodana in the same event.

The Junior men's team, fresh from a strong showing in the Junior Tour this month, will be completing their preparation for the Europeans through a series of specific training and Kermesse racing in Belgium. From the 27 - 29 July the competitive Junior team, includes in form Cormac Clarke, who came third in the Junior Tour, and Ryan Mullen, multiple stage winner, will race in the International Niedersachen Rundfahrt in Germany, where they will line out next to many of the other nations who will be at the start line at the Europeans.

The women's team consists of three U23 riders, and a Junior. Based in USA, Mary Costello, is predominantly a track based rider, and was a member of the elite women's track team as a first year senior. Costello is joined by Lauren Creamer and Fiona Guihen in the U23 Road Race. Creamer is a UK based rider, and has been preparing on the race circuit in events from Europe to South Africa. Fiona Guihen, along with Junior rider Lauren Gourlay have been preparing domestically for what will be their first major competition at the European Championships.

Cycling CEO, Geoff Liffey, says "With an entry of seventeen riders this is the biggest European Championship team that Ireland has entered, it is the strongest team with a mixture of medal contenders and strong upcoming development riders, the Europeans will remain a big objective over the next few years."

Racing starts for the European Championships with the Junior Men and U23 Women's Time Trial on the 9th August.

European Championships Website: http://www.zeeland2012.nl/index.php?page=home-en