EIRE OG CYCLING CLUB

Next week the Eire Og hosts the Irish Cycling Championships. They will begin with The National Time Trial Championships on Thursday the 24th of June with fist rider off from Collooney at 7.01pm. On Saturday the 26th they host both the Ladies and Veterans Road Race Championships. Ladies race starts at 11am and the Vets start at 2.30pm. The final day of racing on Sunday June 27th sees the Junior and Elite Senior Road Race Championships take place. This will be a very exciting event with Irelands top professional riders confirmed to participate. Nicholas Roche, son of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen will be keen to repeat his victory from last year and wear the coveted Shamrock Jersey in the Tour de France a week after the Championships. He will find some tough competition from the likes of Daniel Martin of the Garmin Transitions team and Philip Deignan of Cervelo Test Team. Deignan will also be hoping get his hands on the Champions Jersey as he is on the shortlist for his team to ride this year’s Tour de France and the National Champions Jersey adds extra prestige to the team. Also gunning for glory will be Olympian David O Loughlin and his Sean Kelly squad. O Loughlin won the Championships in 2004 when they were last held in Sligo, will he be able to repeat? His form is good at the moment, coming out of the FBD Ras with an epic stage win in the bag, he also has riders such as Mark Cassidy, KOM winner in this year’s Ras and Connor Mc Convey, on his team and on paper at least the Sean Kelly squad should be the strongest team in the race. The Elite race starts at Markievicz Road in Sligo town at 1pm.

All local riders please note that entries for all races closes next week with no entries whatsoever being accepted on the day of the event. More details and entry forms can be found on our website www.eireogcycling.com