Ireland Kick Off Para-cycling World Cup In Ostend As Strong Team Announced



Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly will don the rainbow jerseys this weekend as Ireland kick off their 2024 Para-cycling World Cup campaign in Ostend, Belgium.


Round Two of the Para-cycling World Cup, taking place from May 2nd to 5th, will see Ireland represented by a strong team across both the individual and tandem events.


Dunlevy and Kelly formed a formidable partnership in the women's tandem at last year's Para-cycling World Cup, taking overall victory as they set the tone for 2023 that saw them go on to take double gold medals in the time trial and road race events at the UCI Cycling World Championships. 


The duo will once again combine as they continue their preparations for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris later this year as Josephine Healion and Eve McCrystal aim to continue their partnership and seek to underline forward strides made last year.


Damien Vereker and Mitchell McLaughlin are in action in the men's tandem events while Ireland will also be represented by four riders in the individual categories across the weekend.


The experienced Declan Slevin will represent Ireland in the men's handcycling MH3 events, Richael Timothy will ride in the women's C3 events. Meanwhile, in the men's individual events, Chris Burns (MC2) and Ronan Grimes (MC4) complete an experienced and competitive Ireland line-up.


All riders will compete in both the time trial and road races across the weekend. The handcycling time trials take place on Thursday and the road races will be held on Saturday. The tandem and other individual time trials are on Friday while the road races will be held on Sunday. 


The team will look forward to quick turnaround after Ostend as Round Three brings Ireland to Maniago, Italy, from May 16th to 19th in what will prove another key event in the team's preparations for the Paralympic Games. 


An Ireland Development Team, supported by the Cycling Ireland Para-cycling Commission, will also be represented by four riders in Ostend as Allister MacSorley, William Clifford, Cormac O'Callaghan and Ivan Naluswa compete in the individual events across the weekend. 


Ireland Team - Ostend Para-cycling World Cup


Ronan Grimes - MC4

Christopher Burns - MC2

Richael Timothy - WC3

Declan Slevin - MH3

Katie George Dunlevy & Linda Kelly - WB

Josephine Healion & Eve McCrystal - WB

Damien Vereker & Mitchell McLaughlin - MB


Cycling Ireland Para-cycling Commission Development Team - Ostend Para-cycling World Cup


Allister MacSorley - MH4

William Clifford - MC3

Cormac O'Callaghan - MC1

Ivan Naluswa - MC5



Schedule 


May 2nd - Time Trial

Declan Slevin - MH3 

Allister MacSorley - MH4


May 3rd - Time Trial

Ronan Grimes - MC4

Christopher Burns - MC2

Richael Timothy - WC3

Katie George Dunlevy & Linda Kelly - WB

Josephine Healion & Eve McCrystal - WB

Damien Vereker & Mitchell McLaughlin - MB

William Clifford - MC3

Cormac O'Callaghan - MC1

Ivan Naluswa - MC5


May 4th - Road Races

Declan Slevin - MH3 

Allister MacSorley - MH4


May 5th - Road Races

Ronan Grimes - MC4

Christopher Burns - MC2

Richael Timothy - WC3

Katie George Dunlevy & Linda Kelly - WB

Josephine Healion & Eve McCrystal - WB

Damien Vereker & Mitchell McLaughlin - MB

William Clifford - MC3

Cormac O'Callaghan - MC1

Ivan Naluswa - MC5



Live Timing


Start lists and live timing information will be available here during the event. 



More information on the 2024 Para-cycling World Cup is available here.