Drogheda youth cyclist Ciara O'Connor handed dream chance to race for team in Belgium
Today at 06:30
It has been confirmed that Drogheda Wheelers CC youth rider Ciara O'Connor will join Belgian team Golazo Young Lions for the start of the cyclocross season.
Ciara will race with the Belgian team while abroad and will continue to represent Drogheda Wheelers when she is racing in Ireland.
Last week she met with two-time World champion Sven Nys and proudly wore her new team kit at the Sven Nys Cycling Centre in Baal, Belgium, where she had the opportunity to train, and she will return to Belgium in a few weeks' time for more valuable training ahead of the cyclocross season.
Back home, Ciara also took second place in the National Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championships, hosted by MBCC Mountain Biking Club of Cork in very wet and muddy conditions earlier this month.
Ciara also enjoyed international success in Belgium last year and placed third in the U14 race at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dublin, in the grounds of the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown.
Ciara raced the challenging circuit that world-class professional cyclocross riders such as World champion Fem Van Empel and elite women's winner Lucinda Brand - both of the Netherlands - raced the following day.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Drogheda United loan signing John O'Sullivan sets big goals for business end of the season
Drogheda Independent Today at 21:30 John O'Sullivan agreed to switch to Drogheda United on loan from Shamrock Rovers in pursuit of more game time and the move is already paying off - but the ambitious teenager's next goal is to secure a starting place in the team. The Ringsend native didn't feature in any of Rovers' three games prior to joining Drogheda but then came off the bench to score on his United debut in the last round of the FAI Cup against Crumlin United and has since made substitute appearances in the league games against Bohemians and Waterford.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Luca Brecel reveals ‘I am suffering with health problems' with former world snooker champion missing since April
The Belgian won't have the opportunity to play again until September TAKING A BREAK Luca Brecel reveals 'I am suffering with health problems' with former world snooker champion missing since April FORMER snooker world champion Luca Brecel has announced that his absence from recent tournaments has been a result of health problems. Brecel has been absent from professional snooker in recent weeks, pulling out of qualifiers for both the Wuhan and British Opens, as well as the Championship League. 2 Former snooker world champion Luca Brecel has revealed a battle with health issues is the reason behind his absence from recent snooker events Credit: PA On Sunday he suddenly withdrew from his scheduled match at the Saudi Arabia Masters this weekend, citing 'medical reasons.' Now the Belgian Bullet has taken to social media to address his non-participation in the beginning of this snooker season. In a story posted to his Instagram account, he said: "Hi everyone, some of you might have been wondering why I am not participating in snooker events since April. "The truth is that I am suffering with health problems. 2 Brecel took to Instagram to update fans on his health struggles Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk "Me and my team are doing everything we can to come out of this stronger and better than before. "It's been really frustrating to not be able to travel and compete in tournaments! "But... I always choose to be optimistic! Tough times often lead to something great!" The 30-year-old was set to face Englishman Sanderson Lam in the third round of the Saudi Arabia Masters on Sunday, with Lam now receiving a bye. Details surrounding the nature of his health issues have not been released, but they are serious enough to prevent the snooker maverick from travelling to tournaments. It has been a tough few years for Brecel since he won the World Championship in 2023. BBC commentator spots moment Luca Brecel apologises to Judd Trump during epic World Snooker Championship quarter-final His last contest came in the quarter-finals of April's World Championships at the Crucible, where Brecel put up a valiant effort but fell 13-8 to world number one Judd Trump. His tournament performances last season saw him slip down to 39th in the World Snooker Tour rankings. His health absence has coincided with the first four events of the 2025-26 snooker calendar, meaning his campaign to reignite his past form has got off to a frustrating start. His next opportunity to play won't come until early September, when he could compete at the Xi'an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open qualifiers in Leicester. Whether he will be well enough to compete, or whether his health issues will continue to keep him out of the spotlight of the tour, remains to be seen.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Former World Snooker champion Luca Brecel pulls out of Saudi Arabia Masters for ‘medical reasons'
LUCA BRECEL will not have another competitive snooker match for at least five weeks after he withdrew from the Saudi Arabia Masters. The former Belgian world champion pulled out of the £2.3million event in Jeddah citing 'medical reasons'. 3 Luca Brecel lifted the world title in 2023 but fell to the Crucible curse the year later Credit: Getty 3 The Belgian is one of the most talented snooker stars but has not played since April 30 Credit: Alamy The 30-year-old had been due to meet Sanderson Lam, 31, in round three on Sunday evening in the Kingdom but the Englishman has now received a bye into the fourth round. The top 16 players, such as Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump, will enter the competition in round five on Tuesday. It is believed Brecel will not be fined or punished for skipping the ranking tournament, particularly if he provides acceptable evidence to justify his medical situation. The last time Brecel was involved in competition was back at the Crucible when he lost 13-8 to world No1 Judd Trump in the quarter-finals of the World Championship in Sheffield. READ MORE IN SNOOKER Present day future World's youngest ever snooker star, 14, secures first professional win He did not take part in the low-key, season-opening Championship League. And his failure to show up for a qualifier against Pakistan's Haris Tahir in Leicester on June 22 means he has not qualified for the Wuhan Open, which starts in a fortnight. The earliest opportunity for him to play again will be the English Open in the Essex town of Brentwood, which begins on September 11. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 3 Brecel was defeated by Judd Trump in the World Championship quarter-finals this year Credit: Getty But it would be no great surprise if he decided not to travel to the UK and remain in his homeland for a few more weeks. Brecel is ranked 39th in the world and is in danger of his career spiralling downwards if he continues to remain inactive. Former world champion Luca Brecel 'cheesed off' and accused of 'making statement' with bizarre gesture at Scottish Open Not that he seems to care too much and he has spent the summer with his new girlfriend back home in the Maasmechelen region. According to his Instagram account, the pair have ridden bikes together, ate good food, drank Stella, wine and cocktails and embraced time away from the baize.
