Doyleselected for TeamIreland

Matthew Doyle (Foyle CC) has been named in the team of four alongside Eddie Dunbar (Cork), Thomas Fallon (Galway) and Dylan Foley (Cork).

Teams representing all four Irish provinces and clubs from all over Ireland also will be participating, while international teams will be travelling from Holland (2 teams), USA, France and Britain (1 team each).

Meanwhile, race organisers say Setanta Sports has committed itself to broadcasting highlighted coverage of the six stages in the world’s longest junior (U18) event.

The 500-kilometre race will once again attract strong international competition with up to 80 of the best junior cyclists in the world competing against Ireland’s most promising young cyclists.

Last year’s six-stage event, which was held in County Mayo, was won by 17-year-old Colin Joyce of U.S. team Hot Tubes who finished ahead of U.S. team-mate Curtis White. Stena Line Ireland team member and Newry-native Cormac Clarke, also 17, finished in third.

Three of the race stages will start and finish in Ennis with the remaining three finishing in Barefield, Cooraclare and Gallows Hill. The race will feature 21 categorised hills consisting of 2 Category 1 Climbs (Castle Hill in Doolin and Gallows Hill in Cratloe), 4 Category 2 Climbs and 15 Category 3 climbs. The stages incorporate all parts of the county including some of the county’s main population areas.