Author: Brendan Whelan – Women’s Cycling Coach Why we should all be talking about Contraception:  A 2019 survey recorded that 50% of elite athletes used hormonal contraception. In this video we introduce hormonal contraception – why do we need to be discussing contraceptive as part of our role in supporting active women?  We also need to talk about the common myths and misuse of hormonal contraception in sport.  Rather than the fluctuating hormonal profile experienced by women with a naturally occurring menstrual cycle, women using hormonal contraception get the same hormonal me ..read more

Author: Brendan Whelan – Women’s Cycling Coach A poorly fitting sports bra can have consequences for health, including: Breast pain Skin damage Poor posture Musculoskeletal problems  Nerve impingement  It can also impact sporting performance by: Increasing breast motion which causes discomfort  Making exercise feel harder Decreasing stride length during running Increasing muscle activity in upper body, which uses more energy Reducing breathing frequency Preventing correct upper body movement during sport  All of this can add up to a 4% decrease in performance! No one ..read more

7-11 September 2022. County Kilkenny, Ireland. 5 days, 6 stages, Over 400km of racing. An international field of riders will compete for top honours in the premier women’s event on the Irish cycling calendar. Download The Rás Race Manual Here:  Rás Official Website Here: IVCA Continue Long term association with Rás na mBan: Rás na mBan begins on Wednesday and the climber’s classification will again be supported by the IVCA through their popular Wicklow 200 sportive in a continuation of a partnership stretching back to the beginning of the event in 2006. The Wicklow 200 Quee ..read more

Cycling Leinster are holding an U23/junior road racing training camp on Saturday November 19th and Sunday November 20th. This is open to riders male and female that will compete on the road in the U23 and junior category in 2023. The camp will include 2 coached road spins of approx 100km each Training talks and advice from two of Irelands top riders Lara Gillespie and Dara Feely. Overnight stay in Abbeyleix. Evening meal and breakfast. All spins will be supported. Places are limited. To express an interest to take part please email leinsterselectors@gmail.com  with the following: Name ..read more

Shauna Finn (Arcane Cycling Team) has won the 2022 Women’s Commission Intermediate League . The Newcastle-West based rider made the trip to Warrenpoint on Sunday (25th September) for the final round of the Intermediate League. Finn went into the event wearing the League Leaders Jersey, and was fastest junior on the day (Second Woman Overall) to see her hold onto her overall lead and be crowned 2022 winner. The final round of IM league took place at Thomas White TT hosted by Banbridge Cycling Club .   The Intermediate League has an Overall prize fund of €750 . Fastest woman on the day was ..read more

2022 Leinster Track Championships: Saturday 24th September. The 2022 Track season comes to an end this Saturday (September 24th) with the Leinster Track C/ship at Sundrive Velodrome. A quality field, including many of this years National Track Champions and Medallists has entered to compete for Provincial Titles over two events. Track Open for warm-up 0900 – 0955 (1) Time Trials in order of riders as listed below U12/U14 250m TT All others 500m TT (2) Races as per below Race 1 : U12/U14 Scratch  8 Laps Race 3 : Women/JunW/U16G 16 LapsSeparate medals per category in combined races &nb ..read more

Opus Training I am very keen to help any cyclist to hone their skills and get the most from their training. About me: Tokyo 2020 Olympian (Sprint and Keirin) 2019 UCI Track Cycling world Cup Bronze medalist (Keirin) 2018 2019 Continental Championship Bronze medalist (Sprint, Keirin and Team sprint) Coaching Services: -Cycling Specific Gym based training  personalised and periodised strength and power gym based training. – Online Cycling Coaching  Trainingpeaks Premium for every athlete to help you achieve your goals -Race Day support coaching on your race day to help you focus on y ..read more

Scottish Rider Overcomes Late Scare to Clinch Overall Title: Click Here For Full Results: Alba Development Road Team’s Kate Richardson overcame late drama to secure overall victory at Rás na mBan in Kilkenny City this afternoon. The Scottish rider was caught up in a crash on the wet roads with six laps to go, resulting in a mechanical and two bike changes before she was able to re-join the main bunch on the following lap. Richardson recovered well to finish ninth on the stage, one place ahead of nearest overall challenger Lieke van Zeelst of The Netherlands. Both contenders finished together i ..read more

Cycling Ireland has announced a strong team for the UCI Track World Championships which take place in Paris from October 12th to 16th. Ireland will be represented by Emily Kay, Lara Gillespie, Kelly Murphy, Mia Griffin and Alice Sharpe competing in a range of endurance events while Orla Walsh will compete in the sprint event.   Off the back of a successful European Track Championship campaign, Ireland’s track riders will be targeting more success as they compete in a wide range of events in Paris. Dan Henchy, National Track Coach commented: “This is a strong team that has been ..read more

Cycling Ireland 2022-23 Athlete Development Programme Cycling Ireland invites riders born in 2005, 2006 and 2007 which includes 2nd year u16s can apply to be part of the 2023 Junior Athlete Development Programme. Now in its fourth year, the programme is an evidence-based framework delivered by Cycling Ireland’s High Performance coaches and performance experts from multiple disciplines.  The benefits from the programme include individual feedback and input on training programmes, physiological testing, educational workshops, consultations with experts in life skills, sports nutrition and s ..read more