![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/cycling-ireland-to-send-irish-teams-to-mtb-xco-worlds-and-europeans.jpg\")
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Chris Dawson is no stranger to the Irish jersey and will be in contentioin for selection for the Worlds and Europeans (Photo: Thomas Maheux-SWpix)<\/p>\n
Cycling Ireland has launched an expression of interest process for riders who want to be selected onto the Irish team for the MTB XCO World Championships and European Championships.<\/p>\n
The UEC European Championships are being held in Monteceneri, Switzerland, from July 29th to August 2nd, with the Worlds following just weeks later.<\/p>\n
Those UCI World Championships will take place in Val di Sole, Italy, from August 26th to 30th, ensuring a very busy time for any of our top MTB XCO riders selected for both major championships.<\/p>\n
Cycling Ireland has pointed out while it is running the selection process for the national teams for both championships, its selection only relates to MTB XCO riders.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Out best downhill riders, who have been among the very best in the world on their day in recent years – including Ronan Dunne and Oisin O’Callaghan – will have their national team selection decisions carried out in a separate process. That will be run by the federation’s off-road commission.<\/p>\n Anyone interested in expressing their interest in riding the MTB XC Europeans and\/or Worlds, needs to complete and submit the form available at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n “As is typically the case for international selections, candidate athletes will be expected to evidence their competitiveness in recent international competition,” Cycling Ireland said.<\/p>\n According to the selection criteria for major championships, riders looking to be selected must fulfill one or more of the following selection criteria:<\/p>\n Be medal competitive in Olympic\/Paralympic events at European and\/or World Championships or in a discipline that is connected to this event![\"EF](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ef-lead-director-quot-ben-healy-may-be-further-along-than-last-year-quot.jpg\")
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\nIn each Olympic and Paralympic cycle develop a team or individuals in each Olympic\/Paralympic discipline that the panel determines can be medal competitive in the current or next cycle
\nAllow individual athletes or squads we believe have the potential to be podium standard within the cycle, or shortly after, at European and\/or World Championship level, the opportunity to gain beneficial experience and\/or score UCI points contributing towards targeted current UCI World Championships or Olympic\/Paralympic qualifying rankings<\/p>\n