2023 Road European Championships Preview
The international road racing season reaches its boiling point this week as Ireland look forward to an exciting few days of action at the UEC Road European Championships.
Following a successful UCI Cycling World Championships and Tour de l’Avenir in recent weeks, Ireland close off their road season in Drenthe, Netherlands, beginning on Wednesday, September 20th until Sunday, September 24th.
With 23 riders set to represent Ireland at the championships, there’s plenty for supporters to look forward to as green jerseys take to the start line in all Junior, U23 and Elite Road Races across a jam-packed week.
Kicking off with Individual Time Trials across all categories, Ireland are also represented in Junior Men and Women, U23 Men and Elite Men and Women races against the clock on Wednesday, September 20th.
The championships also represent the final opportunity for nations to secure points for 2024 Paris Olympics qualification for both the men and women’s road race and time trial.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 UEC European Road Championships:
How to watch
Supporters in Ireland can follow the action from the 2023 UEC Road European Championships with live coverage on Eurosport and GCN+.
There will be live coverage of the elite men and women’s time trials and road races as well as highlights programmes.
Keep up to date with all the updates for Irish riders on our website and social media channels during the championships.
Live Timing
Live timing from all events is available here.
Schedule
Wednesday, 20th
Junior Women’s Individual Time Trial
8.00 – 9.10 (Irish Time)
20.6km
Team
Lucy Benezet Minns
Aine Doherty
Julia Murphy
Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial
9.25 – 10.45
20.6km
Team
Adam Rafferty
Liam O’Brien
Patrick Casey
U23 Men’s Individual Time Trial
12.05 – 13.10
20.6km
Team
Darren Rafferty
Dean Harvey
Elite Women’s Individual Time Trial
13.30 – 14.50
29.5km
Kelly Murphy
Elite Men’s Individual Time Trial
15.15 – 16.45
Ryan Mullen
Friday, 22nd
U23 Men’s Road Race
After an encouraging showing at the World Championships and a successful Tour de l'Avenir, Ireland's U23 men's team look to finish the season on a high in the road race on Friday. The U23 men’s road race starts in Hoogeveen and will travel 64.6km before entering the 13.7km Col du VAM circuit for five laps. In total the riders will race over 136.5km.
Team
Darren Rafferty
Dean Harvey
Odhran Doogan
Jamie Meehan
Kevin McCambridge
Start Time
8.30 – 11.45 Irish Time
U23 Women’s Road Race
Lara Gilliespie along with the O’Brien sisters, Caoimhe and Aoife will compete in the U23 women’s road race on Friday. Their race will start in Coevorden with an opening 36.1km before entering the finishing circuit for five laps.
Team
Lara Gillespie
Caoimhe O'Brien
Aoife O'Brien
Start Time
13.30 – 16.10 Irish Time
Saturday 23rd
Junior Men’s Road Race
A bolstered squad of six junior men will take on the road race on Saturday as Seth Dunwoody and Liam O'Brien once again take to the line. But this time they'll have multiple other teammates as Adam Rafferty, Cal Tutty, Oisin Ferrity and Patrick Casey also feature. The junior races will takes place solely on the Col du VAM circuit with the junior men set to take on eight laps of the 13.7km circuit totalling 111km.
Team
Seth Dunwoody
Adam Rafferty
Liam O'Brien
Patrick Casey
Cal Tutty
Oisin Ferrity
Start Time
8.00 – 10.45 Irish Time
Elite Women Road Race
Alice Sharpe will be joined by Fiona Mangan who comes in to replace Megan Armitage in the elite women’s road race on Saturday. The pair will take on 131.3km which starts in Meppel for an opening 59.3km before entering the finishing circuit to complete five laps.
Team
Alice Sharpe
Fiona Mangan
Start Time
12.45 – 16.03 Irish Time
Sunday, 24th
Junior Women’s Road Race
Lucy Benezet Minns and Aine Doherty will once again represent Ireland in the junior women's category while Spanish-based rider Julia Murphy makes her first appearance for Ireland at an international level. The junior races will take place solely on the Col du VAM circuit with the junior women set to take on five laps of the 13.7km circuit totalling 68.2km.
Team
Lucy Benezet Minns
Aine Doherty
Julia Murphy
Start Time
8.00 – 10.34 Irish Time
Elite Men Road Race
Rory Townsend and Dillon Corkery will represent Ireland in the elite men’s road race on Sunday. The race will start from Assen when the riders will complete 115km before reaching the finishing circuit where they will complete six laps of the Col du VAM circuit.
Team
Rory Townsend
Dillon Corkery
Start Time
11.15 – 15.58 Irish Time