Eoghan Lattimore racing in the colours of U23 Velo Performance RT this year, with some of the 2025 riders returning for next season and new Irish riders being signed up (Photo: Caroline Kerley)

The U23 Velo Performance RT, which had its inaugural season in 2025, is shaping up for battle in Ireland and abroad next year with several new signings, including very promising young Irish riders.

It enjoyed perhaps its most impressive results in 2025 with Willem O’Connor when he out in a breakthrough ride at Dornan Rás Mumhan last Easter; finishing 3rd overall and 2nd on two stages in a stack field of Irish and British riders.

Its line-up of young riders which also included former junior international Cal Tutty this year, threw itself into some very hard European racing – including UCI-ranked events in Greece at the start of the season.

And while some of those races were bruising for first-year U23s, it is experience they will now look to cash in on in 2026, when they will be further into their U23 careers. They will not only have that 2025 campaign in their legs, but also another winter’s training, and should be ready to make moves.

Some of its young Irish talent is returning for a second season in 2026 while several strong competitors have been added included Jack Conroy (Bray Wheelers), Luca Holmes (WP Molenspurters) and Curtis Neill (Lyon Sprint Evolution).

The team is yet to unveil its full line-up for next year, but among the confirmed riders on the roster are:

Luca Holmes (18): Broken into the Irish junior national track team in 2025 and comes top the team from Belgian squad Belgian team WP Molenspurters for what will be his first season at U23 level

Curtis Neill (20): Has gained a lot of experience racing abroad in recent seasons – for French team Lyon Sprint Evolution – and has taken some strong results, perhaps just below the radar at home; 8th at the Shay Elliott Memorial, 6th on GC at Rás Mhaigh Eo, 11th on GC at Dornan Rás Mumhan.

Jack Conroy (21): Having raced for Bray Wheelers in recent years, Conroy has taken himself off to Belgium to compete for stints and has really gained from that experience, with some very strong riders in Ireland including wins in the Mick Beggan Memorial and North Down GP, not to mention some podium results in Belgium.

Cal Tutty (19: The former junior international stays with the team after competing for it in its first year in 2025, when he gained invaluable experience, including in UCI-ranked races, across Europe.

Tom Huelin (20): The British rider raced in the colours of French team CC Plancoët this season and will look to take his performance up another notch with the Irish team in 2026.

Jacob James (22): Returns to Velo Performance after racing for the team in 2025, with the British rider in 2026 looking to capitalise on the experience gained this year.

Christopher Marshall (20): The former Moynalty CC rider competed for Velo Performance this season both home and abroad, taking some solid results on the Irish scene.

Eoghan Lattimore (19): Having ridden for Velo Performance this year and also gained a lot of international experience as a junior with E. Tarrant & Sons LTD Skoda Munster Team, Lattimore has always looked like a promising riding and will look to make a step up in 2026.

Backed by a cycling business in Portugal, and run by a former pro rider Iúri Jorge, VeloPerformance will again ride the biggest stages on the home scene next year.

They will also competing in European UCI-ranked races through the season and some of the biggest U23 stage races in the world.