3 days ago
North Cork set to host 2025 National Youth Cycling Championships
Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club, in partnership with Fermoy Cycling Club, will stage the prestigious two-day event this Saturday and Sunday.
The championships were officially launched at Fermoy's Corrin Mart, attended by Michael O'Connor and Steve McGrath (Fermoy CC), Anthony Tancred, Richard Cleverly and Tim Murphy (Sliabh Luachra CC), Theresa Finn (Executive Secretary, Women's Commission Cycling Ireland), and Danny Curtin (Chairman, Munster Cycling Board).
The All-Ireland competition is expected to draw large numbers of riders, officials and support teams to the region. All routes have been approved by Cycling Ireland, the national governing body.
Saturday's action begins at 10am in Knocknagree with the Time Trial and Road Races. The village, fresh from a major tidy-up by the local Tidy Towns group, will host Race HQ at the newly renovated Knocknagree Community Centre. The Tidy Towns team will also run a pop-up café to raise funds for local projects.
Sunday's Criterium will take place from 10am on a fully closed-road circuit at Fermoy Mart, offering a safe and spectator-friendly setting. Organisers have thanked Cork Co-Operatives Mart for the use of the Corrin facility and urged all attendees to co-operate with stewards and race officials.
Local contenders include Fermoy CC's in-form Max McGrath and Shane O'Brien, while Sliabh Luachra CC's Muireann Fenton, Caroline Collins and Patrick O'Sullivan will be chasing podium places.
Both clubs have long championed youth cycling in Ireland, encouraging participation.
'This event reflects our shared commitment to developing young riders and securing the future of Irish cycling,' said Tim Murphy of Sliabh Luachra CC.
The championships return to Cork for the first time since 2016, when they were hosted by O'Leary Stone Kanturk. Recent editions have been staged in Waterford, Donegal, Westmeath, Antrim and Armagh.
