2023 Road National Championships Junior Women & Men Road Races Preview And Startlist
Oisin Ferrity celebrates winning the 2022 junior men's race
The stars of the future will do battle this weekend in the junior men and junior women races at the 2023 Road National Championships in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.
The Junior Men's race is scheduled for 9am on Saturday, June 24th while the Junior Women's race is set for 8am on Sunday, June 25th.
In the junior men's race, riders will take on an opening loop before four laps of a race circuit - bringing the course to a total of 122.6km.
In the women's race, riders will race three laps along the circuit, with no opening loop, in a course with 65.4km.
More information on the course for both races is available here.
36 riders are set to take to the line in the junior men's race while ten riders will start the junior women's race - an increase from six riders in the 2022 junior women's road race.
With several exciting riders in both races, we've taken a look at three riders to watch from each race.
Riders To Watch
Killian O'Brien (Junior Men)
The current leader of the junior men's category in the Road National Series, O'Brien impressed many with a particularly eye-catching performance in the fifth round of the series earlier this month, putting senior riders under pressure at the front of the race. O'Brien is a promising talent for the future and can underline that with a good performance on Saturday.
Oisin Ferrity (Junior Men)
The reigning junior national champion, Oisin Ferrity is racing on local roads on Saturday. A talented rider across multiple disciplines, Ferrity has also featured in the Road National Series in recent months and will have a big say on who takes the win on Saturday.
Seth Dunwoody (Junior Men)
One of the big favourites for the junior men's race, Seth Dunwoody will be one of the riders to watch on Saturday. Also a favourite for the junior men's time trial, Dunwoody picked up wins in Belgium and France this season and will be keen to put up a strong performance.
Other riders to watch in the junior men's race are Sam Coleman, Adam Rafferty, Patrick Casey and Liam O'Brien.
Lucy Benezet Minns (Junior Women)
Born in Dublin, the UK-based prospect is a talented rider across multiple disciplines including track and cyclo-cross. Competing at her first Irish national championships, Lucy Benezet Minns will measure herself against a tough field.
Shauna Finn (Junior Women)
The reigning junior time trial national champion, Shauna Finn is one of the favourites in the junior women's road race. Performing consistently among senior riders in the Road National Series this season, Finn will hope to improve on her third place finish last season.
Hannah Hayes (Junior Women)
Hannah Hayes comes into the Road National Series off the back of some impressive racing in the Road National Series. Hayes enjoyed some strong results in recent rounds of the series to take the lead in the overall junior women's category with just two rounds to go.
With a smaller field, every rider will fancy their chances of earning a strong finish.