Pathway Spotlight - James Logue
2026 has been a year of firsts for James Logue; his first year as a junior, his first year on the High Performance Pathway Programme, and national team debuts in both road and track competition.
As part of our Pathway Spotlight series we caught up with James as he comes to the end of his first year on the Pathway.
“The Pathway has been a big help for me as a first year junior. Like there’s a lot to learn in your first year and the Pathway makes all that easier, it makes that step up easier. All the learning and the coaching, kind of guiding you through what you should be doing in races and in your training and even your nutrition, you learn so much about your nutrition and sleep. It’d definitely be a lot harder to step into the junior ranks without the support of the PPP.”
“If you just listen to what you’re being told, what the people in the Pathway are telling you and just try and implement that into your training you’re set. And then you get to go up to Dublin and do your days in the [Sport Ireland] Institute which are really helpful. You do your testing and learn more about strength and conditioning, and the most important thing I suppose is to reciprocate that energy; the energy that everyone else brings and is putting into you – give that back.”
“Those extra Pathway resources, for me, have made a big impact. Like just getting to go up to Dublin for those days and getting to work with the S&C coaches and learn how to optimise your training. Then you get all the online workshops, access to the sports psychology and stuff. You get help with how to balance school and sport, how to manage your sleep and nutrition. I gained so much information that I would have never gotten without the PPP.”
Logue’s first national team call up for a road race was at Course de la Paix in Czechia, but that ultimately ended on Stage 1 with a DNF following a crash that took out 13 other riders.
“It was a class experience – like it’s the national team. The whole thing is very professional and the racing was great. It was a bit unfortunate, how it ended, but I really enjoyed the experience, and exposure to that environment is a great experience and really helps you grow.”
Alongside a road debut, 2026 saw James take to the track in Irish colours for the first time as he travelled to the Belgian Open in Ghent.
“The transition to track racing was easy, the team at Cycling Ireland made it easy. There’s a lot of learning in it but I’ve a really good track coach and he’s helped me get to grips with it. He has so much experience on the track and he’s helped me learn and grow there.”
James has featured in several provincial squads throughout the year, including the prestigious Tour of Wales. “I really enjoyed the Tour of Wales, I enjoyed lots of the trips I went on with Munster this year. Provincial teams are really important, exposure to that level of racing abroad and racing with lads you don’t normally race with. I loved getting to go some of those races you wouldn’t get without the province’s backing.”
Part of James’ PPP journey has involved him working closely with coaches Stuart Balfour and Martyn Irvine. “I’ve actually found it really easy working with the two lads. They put in so much work, all you have to do is listen to what they’re saying, keep interacting, keep engaging, take it all on board and give back the same level of energy.”
“The Pathway is absolutely worthwhile for anyone thinking about applying, if you’re trying to get into it. It’s definitely a big help for your all-round development if you can get into it.”
With his second year as a junior looming, the Carrick Wheelers rider will be taking this year's experience forward and look to build. “I’ve learned a lot in my first year and I just want to take some of those learnings with me into next year. Riding in bigger bunches, race tactics, that side of things but also get a bit more strength in my legs to back it up. I just want to keep racing, keep improving, keep learning and hopefully get some wins. It’s a bit early to say what my exact plans will be but Nationals are always going to be a target.”
High Performance Pathway Lead Stuart Balfour has worked closely with James throughout his PPP journey. “There’s been a huge amount of growth in James this year I’d say. I’ve obviously been working with him closely since the first time we met, at the beginning of this whole process, and since then he’s grown as a rider but also as a person – coming out of his shell. He’s progressing in his training and his racing and has made a huge step up. I find it really interesting he’s mentioned there about reciprocating the energy that’s put into him on the training and coaching days, because that’s the same feedback we’ve had from Sport Ireland Institute practitioners and it’s been my own experience working with James. Every time he comes in, he gives his all, he listens, he interacts, and that’s why he’s getting so much out of it.”
Expressions if Interest for young riders seeking to enter the High Performance Pathway Programme for 2027 will open in the coming weeks.