Ones to Watch on the World Stage in 2026
As a new year of racing begins, some Irish riders have changed teams, so here’s a quick guide to keep up with some of our top pros in UCI competition:
Off-Road:
Following the winding down of YT Mob in 2025, National Champion and former Junior World Champion Oisin O’Callaghan has signed for Trek-Unbroken Downhill team.
2025 World Bronze Medallist Ronan Dunne remains with Mondraker Factory Racing for 2026.
Having made the switch to newly formed AON Racing for the start of 2025, Henry Kerr remains with the Scottish outfit for this coming season.
Jacob Dickson moves on from MS Racing, and will move to a limited calendar with SteamPunk Downhill Army for 2026.
In the Junior ranks, Darragh Ryan, who had his season dented by injury through 2025, will remain with Orbea FMD racing.
Greg Callaghan will again ride his own programme on the Enduro front, while Kelan Grant stays with Rotwild Schwalbe Gravity Team for another year.
Chris Dawson will also run his own programme through Dawson Racing, that may see the XC National Champion racing top tier events across Europe.
Oisin O’Callaghan – Trek-Unbroken DH
Ronan Dunne – Mondraker Factory Racing
Henry Kerr – AON Racing
Jacob Dickson – SteamPunk Downhill Army
Darragh Ryan – Orbea FMD Racing
Greg Callaghan - Privateer
Kelan Grant - Rotwild Schwalbe Gravity Team
Chris Dawson - Dawson Racing
Road
EF Education-Easy Post retains it’s stable of Irish riders including World Championship Bronze Medallist Ben Healy, Darren Rafferty and Archie Ryan. EF’s women’s outfit, EF Education-Oatly have also added Caoimhe O’Brien.
Reigning Track World Champion Lara Gillespie remains with UAE ADQ for 2026.
Having been crowned Road Race National Champion again in 2025, Rory Townsend leaves Q36.5 for Unibet Rose Rockets. As Townsend exited, Eddie Dunbar and Sam Bennett joined Pinarello Q36.5, leaving Jayco-Alula and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale respectively.
Picnic-PostNL were another team that added two Irish riders for 2026. Current Women’s Road Race National Champion Mia Griffin and Cork’s Dillon Corkery joined the Dutch outfit. Griffin was most recently with Roland Le Dévoluy, while Corkery spent last season at St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93.
Men’s TT National Champion Ryan Mullen, most recently of RedBull Bora Hansgrohe has signed on with NSN Cycling Team for 2026, where Patrick Casey remains in the development team.
2024 Women’s Road Race National Champion Fiona Mangan stays with Winspace Orange Seal Women’s Team for another year.
Marine Lenehan has joined Lidl-Trek on a full time basis, while U23 rider Liam O’Brien remains in the development team.
U23 TT National Champ Adam Rafferty remains with Hagens Berman Jayco, as Emma Jeffers stays with Live AlUla Jayco.
Seth Dunwoody remains with the Bahrain Victorious Development Team, while first year Junior Rian McCrystal joins the U19 set up in Cannibal B Victorious.
APS Pro Cycling will see several Irish riders for 2026, including Cian Keogh, Ronan O’Connor, Con McDunphy and 2025 Junior Tour winner Matthew Walls.
Aoife O’Brien stays with DAS-Hutchinson, while Esther Wong spent the Cyclo cross season with UK based outfit in Spectra Pearson, but will move to Team Farto - BTC for the road season.
Finn Crocket remains with VolkerWessels Cycling Team for a third straight season.
2025 Gravel National Champion and U23 Road Race National Champion Jamie Meehan saw his efforts as a stagiare with Cofidis half way through last year pay off, as he stays with them on a full time basis for 2026.
Former Junior European Track Champion Lucy Benezet Minns leaves Lotto’s women’s team for Chambery Cyclisme Competition.
Amelia Tyler will ride in the colours of Handsling Alba Development Team for 2026. Daniel Yon Hin will ride with 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines, and will be joined there by Cormac McGeough.
Conor Murphy makes the jump from the junior ranks into U23 racing, and moves to Decathlon CMA CGM Newgen, while Adam Kelly rides for Campana Imballagi - Morbiato – Trentino.
Ben Healy – EF Education-EasyPost
Darren Rafferty – EF Education-EasyPost
Archie Ryan – EF Education-EasyPost
Caoimhe O’Brien – EF Education-Oatly
Lara Gillespie – UAE ADQ
Rory Townsend – Unibet Rose Rockets
Eddie Dunbar – Pinarello-Q36.5
Sam Bennett – Pinarello-Q36.5
Mia Griffin – Team Picnic-PostNL
Dillon Corkery – Team Picnic-PostNL
Ryan Mullen – NSN
Patrick Casey – NSN Development
Fiona Mangan – Winspace Orange Seal Women’s Team
Marine Lenehan – Lidl Trek
Liam O’Brien – Lidl Trek Future Racing
Adam Rafferty – Hagens Berman Jayco
Emma Jeffers – Liv AlUla Jayco
Seth Dunwoody – Bahrain Victorious Development
Rian McCrystal – Cannibal B Victorious
Cian Keogh – APS Pro Cycling
Con McDunphy – APS Pro Cycling
Matthew Walls – APS Pro Cycling
Ronan O’Connor – APS Pro Cycling
Aoife O’Brien – DAS Hutchinson
Esther Wong – Team Farto - BTC
Finn Crocket – VolkerWessels Cycling Team
Jamie Meehan – Team Cofidis
Lucy Benezet Minns – Chambery Cyclisme Competition
Conor Murphy – Decathlon CMA CGM Newgen
Amelia Tyler – Handsling Alba Development Team
Daniel Yon Hin – 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines
Cormac McGeough - 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines
Adam Kelly - Campana Imballagi - Morbiato - Trentino
While this list is up to date as of publication, riders will of course move teams throughout the year.