Excitement is building for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Dublin stage as many of the best riders in the world descend on the Sport Ireland Campus.
Round nine of the 2022-23 World Cup will be held in the capital, the first time the event has ever been hosted on Irish soil. It will take place on Sunday, December 11th and tickets have been selling quickly with a crowd of up to 8,000 possibly in attendance on the day.
A special purpose-built course around the Sport Ireland campus will see riders pushed to their limits, including ramp sections as well as tight corners to ensure exciting racing.
At 3 kilometers long, spectators will have multiple opportunities to see the best riders in the world up close and personal as they compete for the win.
Maria Larkin is the Irish national champion and has been selected to represent Ireland in the women’s elite race.
The 35-year-old is no stranger to the Cyclo-cross World Cup and has competed in select stages in recent seasons, including the opening two stages of this season’s edition hosted in the United States.
Roisin Lally will join Larkin in wearing green on Sunday as the 19-year-old competes in the Cyclo-cross World Cup for the second time after competing in the Overijse stage last month.
One of the top prospects in Irish cyclo-cross, Lally has been competitive in the National Trophy Series in the UK this season and finished in fourth place at Cross Clonmel in October.
World champion Tom Pidcock and three-time former rainbow jersey Wout Van Aert front a competitive field in the Men’s elite race.
The British rider has been in mixed form this season, his best finish in the Cyclo-cross World Cup being a second-placed finish but he picked up an important win at Superprestige Boom on December 3rd.
The three-time world champion Von Aert is probably the most recognisable name in world cycling and is sure to be at the forefront of action on Sunday.
The Belgian champion came in second place in last week’s Antwerp round and is aiming to return to winning ways at the Sport Ireland Campus.
Dean Harvey is among a Team Ireland selection of three riders after recording victories in the first two rounds of the inaugural Cyclo-cross National Series.
The 19-year-old is one of Irish Cyclo-cross’ brightest young stars and will measure himself against the best in the world this weekend.
Chris Dawson and Darnell Moore will also form part of Team Ireland
