Irish Cycling Team Announcement 2014 UEC Track Elite European Championships - Guadeloupe

Cycling Ireland is entering a strong and competitive team in the 2014 UEC Track Elite European Championships in Baie-Mahault, Guadaloupe, which takes place from the 15th - 19th October. This marks the first step in the Rio Olympic Qualification Process for the Irish Team, with riders competing across Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines in the French Caribbean Velodrome. It also coincides with the welcome announcement that Ireland has successfully qualified four riders for the World Cups season; they will compete across the sprint and endurance events. The European Championships run from Wednesday the 15th October to Sunday the 19th October.

This Olympic cycle has seen a change in the qualification process, with riders having to qualify for the World Cups by competing in UCI recognised events across Europe. The Sundrive International GP is one such event, where the Track Commission hosted a World Class event which welcomed top quality riders. As a result of strong performances Ireland has qualified Martyn Irvine and Caroline Ryan in the Omnium, Eoin Mullen in the Men's Keirin and Sprint and Australia based Shannon McCurley in the Women's Keirin. All riders will start their Olympic campaign in Guadeloupe, along with the rest of the Irish Team. For the first time Ireland will field two elite Team Pursuits in the European Championships, both male and female.

Speaking from their training base in Majorca, Cycling Ireland's Head Coach Brian Nugent said "it's exciting to be embarking on the Rio qualification process with such a depth of riders. We have expanded the U23 and Junior Programmes over the past number of years to add to our already World Class Team led by World Champion, Martyn Irvine. We have narrowed our focus to specifically target the Olympic events leading to significant talent now coming through. To be able to field two competitive Team Pursuit squads, both male and female, and have no less than 11 riders compete in Olympic Events to start out this qualification campaign bodes well for the future, not only for 2016, but largely for 2020."

While the full schedule for the riders is not fully confirmed, Irish riders will compete across many of the events. The UEC Track Elite European Championships run from the 15th - 19th October.