Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Squad
Northern Ireland's squad for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games will be led by Giant Asia rider David McCann and Multi British Time Trial Champion Michael Hutchinson. Anthony Mitchell from the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation, says
"The team effort, headed by former Games medallist Alastair Irvine has been dealt two major blows in recent months both relating to possible medal winners. Firstly Wendy Houvenaghel, generally thought to be declaring herself available for Northern Ireland, opted at the eleventh hour to instead represent England, and in February AG2R professional Philip Deignan`s broken collar bone ruled him out of the Melbourne competition."
The 7-rider squad will now comprise:
David McCann
Michael Hutchinson
Tommy Evans
Stephen Gallagher
Lewis Ferguson
Ryan Connor
Roger Aiken
Northern Ireland Cycling Team schedule
Thursday March 16,Men Individual 4000m Pursuit
Friday March 17, Men 40km Points Race
Sunday March 19, Men 20km Scratch Race (evening)
Monday March 20, Road Time Trial recce
Monday March 20-22, Lysterfield, MTB course familiarisation
Tuesday March 21, Men Individual Road Time Trial
Thursday March 23, Men Individual Cross Country Race
Saturday March 25, Road Race course familiarisation
Sunday March 26, Men Individual Road Race
Northern Ireland Cycling Team Rider Profiles
Commonwealth Games - Melbourne 2006
Alastair Irvine (Team Manager)
Team/Club: North Down Cycling Club
Started competitive cycling - 1977
Competed professionally on Belgian and French teams between 1985 and 1990
Previous CwG:
4th Team Time Trial 1982 - Brisbane, Australia
3rd Team Time Trial 1986 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Bronze Medal
9th 20km Scratch 1986 - Edinburgh, Scotland
24th Road Race 1986 - Edinburgh, Scotland
6th Team Time Trial 1990 - Auckland, New Zealand
3rd 50km Points Race 1990 - Auckland, New Zealand - Bronze Medal
24th 40km Points Race 1994 - Victoria, Canada
Team Manager 1998 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Team Manager 2002 - Manchester, England
Team Manager 2006 - Melbourne, Australia
David McCann
Events: Road Time Trial, Road Race
Previous CwG: Manchester England 2002/Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 1998/Victoria Canada 1994
Team/Club: Giant Asia Racing Team/Phoenix Cycling Club (Belfast)
Status: Married
Height: 1.86m
Weight: 73kg
D.o.B: 17/03/1973
Interests: Coaching, Music, Technology, Travel.
David is a professional cyclist competing primarily in Asia and has performed exceptionally during the 2005 season. He has competed at international level for 12 years and is also represented Ireland at the Olympic Games. He has achieved Irish
championships in road racing and time trials.
David is an attacking rider who initiates situations and forces response from his competitors, he consistently performs at world elite level and is one of cycling's medal contenders. David finished 14th at the time trial world championships in
2004. This level of performance has shown itself again during 2005 and with the Melbourne games a major priority, David will be focused on attaining his goal.
Previous CwG results;
6th Victoria - Team Time Trial
12th Kuala Lumpur - Road Time Trial
12th Kuala Lumpur - 4000m Individual Pursuit (Velodrome)
8th Manchester - Road Time Trial
2005 Performances;
1st GC Tour of Korea (KOR 2.2)
1st stg Tour of Korea - Leader for 4 days
1st stg 6 TT Sun Tour
3rd Irish RR Championships
3rd G.C. Sun Tour (Aust 2.1)
1st Irish 40km TT C'ship - 50m 13s
1st league 10m TT Jun 9 - 19m 04s (New Irish record)
1st league 25m TT Jun 16 - 50m 04s
1st League 10m TT Jun 30 - 18m 59s (New Irish record)
2006 Performances;
1st stg 1 Tour of Thailand (THA 2.2)
1st stg 4 Tour of Thailand (THA 2.2)
2nd stg 9 TT Tour of Langkawi (MAL 2.1)
3rd Points G.C. Tour of Langkawi (MAL 2.1)
4th Mountains G.C. Tour of Langkawi (MAL 2.1)
13th G.C. Tour of Langkawi (MAL 2.1)
Tommy Evans
Events: Road Race, Points Race, 20km Scratch Race
Previous CwG: Manchester England 2002/Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 1998/Victoria Canada 1994
Team/Club: TerryDolan.com Racing Team
Status: Married
Height: 1.68m
Weight: 62kg
D.o.B: 27/03/1973
Address: Banbridge, Co. Down, N. Ireland.
Interests: Movies, Technology, Gadgets, Coaching, Family restaurant business.
Tommy has been an international competitor for over 12 years. He has competed in elite competition throughout the world and achieved Irish championships and medals. Between 2000 and 2004 he was a European based professional in Marseille, France
He is a potential medallist and important contributor to the performance of a team.
As one of the most experienced riders he will be designated team captain for the road race team, co-ordinating tactics during the event and supporting medal possibilities by seeking opportunities to expose weakness in other teams. His skills and abilities suit the characteristics of the course and he has the experience to influence competitive situations at all stages of the event. Tommy will also participate on the velodrome where he has experience, skill and the ability to achieve results.
Previous CwG results;
10th Victoria - 20km Scratch Race (Velodrome)
27th Kuala Lumpur - Road Race
12th Manchester - Road Race
2005 Performances
1st N.Ireland. RR C'ship
4th Irish RR C'ships
Stephen Gallagher
Events: Road Race, 20km Scratch Race, Points Race
Previous CwG: Manchester England 2002
Team/Club: Giant Asia Racing Team/Orchard Wheelers Cycling Club (Armagh)
Status: Married
Height: 1.76m
Weight: 65kg
D.o.B: 09/07/1980
Interests: Family business, Music.
Stephen was a European professional based in Flanders, Belgium between 2002 and 2005. His race calendar required consistent high performance in many of Europe's premier events. For 2006 Stephen has joined the Giant Asia racing team. Stephen is an exceptional asset to the team.
He has acquired extensive experience of elite racing and with the Melbourne circuit characteristics suitable to Stephens racing style, his skills and abilities will be important on the difficult sections of the course when erratic race patterns develop, similar to the competition he regularly competes in. Stephen has targeted Melbourne as a priority objective within his cycling development. He will also participate on the velodrome.
Previous CwG results;
23rd Manchester - Road Race
2005 Performances
4th Irish 40km TT C'ship
5th Metterman Criterium (GER national series)
5th Regio Bahn Cup (BEL)
6th stg 2 Ras Tour of Ireland (IRE 2.2)
6th Criterium Bochum (BEL)
8th stg 7 Ras Tour of Ireland (IRE 2.2)
10th stg 6 Ras Tour of Ireland (IRE 2.2)
2006 Performances;
Tour of Siam (THA 2.2)
3rd G.C. Tour of Thailand (THA 2.2)
3rd stg 3 Tour of Thailand (THA 2.2)
4th stg 1 Tour of Thailand (THA 2.2)
Lewis Ferguson
Event: Mountain Bike XC, Road Race
Previous CwG: none
Team/Club: Team BHB
Status: Single
Height: 1.72m
Weight: 62kg
D.o.B: 29/07/1985
Interests: Motor sport, Moto GP, socialising, travel.
Lewis has been Northern Irelands leading international elite MTB performer over the past two seasons and ranked second in Ireland. Primarily an elite mountain bike racer who uses road racing to attain competitive advantage, part of his CwG preparation included competing in the UCI ranked 7 day Tour of Siam road race in Thailand.
He will complete his final preparations by competing in New Zealand before arriving in Melbourne. His target has been Melbourne and he has shown an experience that will see a significant performance at the 2006 games. Being only the second time the MTB discipline has been included at Commonwealth Games, Lewis has the talent and ability to make Northern Ireland a major competitive force in this discipline.
2005 Performances;
1st U23 Konitsa MX (GRE E1)
1st Ulster MTB XC League
2nd Ire NPS rd 1 Castlewellan
2nd POG National XC
3rd Ire NPS rd 2 Ballinastoe
3rd Irish XC MX C'ships
3rd XC Conlig (IRE E2)
4th Irish XC OX C'ships OX
8th Larissa XC OX (GRE E1)
9th GB NPS XC OX Nottingham (GBR E2)
2006 Performances;
3rd Irish Cyclo Cross Championships
Ryan Connor
Event: Road Race + Road Time Trial
Previous CwG: none
Team/Club: EC Mayenne (France)/Ballymena Road Club
Status: Single
Height: 1.72m
Weight: 62kg
D.o.B: 06/04/1984
Interests; Travel, technology, soccer
Ryan has been racing professionally during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He has joined a new French team for the 2006 season. Ryan achieved results that would have seen him considered for selection for the 2002 Commonwealth Games had he not been too young for eligibility. He was the British Junior time trial champion in 2003. His aggressive approach to competition will be valuable to the team and he has shown competitiveness on the world stage. He can be depended on to lead attacking or
defensive tactics and has a determination that is an asset to assist our medal possibility. Ryan will make the most of opportunities as they develop, Melbourne has been his objective for the previous four years.
2005 Performances:
3rd KoM Tour of Siam (THA 2.2)
7th Irish RR C'ship
2nd U23 Irish RR C'ships
15th Circuit des Ardennes (BEL 1.1)
1st stg 3 TT Tour of North (Ire National Classic)
1st Ulster 50m TT C'ship
1st Irish U23 40km TT C'ship
2nd N. Ireland RR C'ships
2nd Ulster 10m TT C'ship
2006 Performances:
2nd U23 G.C. Tour of Siam (THA2.2)
14th G.C. Tour of Siam (THA 2.2)
Roger Aiken
Event: Road Race
Previous CwG: none
Team/Club: Sean Kelly Race Team (Belgium)/Banbridge Cycling Club (Banbridge)
Status: Single
Height: 1.79m
Weight: 65kg
D.o.B: 19/05/1981
Interests: Motor sport, engineering, Reading.
Roger is an International competitive cyclist and spent a considerable amount of the 2005 season competing in Belgium. He has developed progressively over the past two seasons to attained significant results and has recently left his employment as a transport engineer to begin a career in professional cycling. Roger is a strong competitor who can force situations to develop, the undulating terrain targets his strength and the erratic nature of the course will be similar to his Belgian competitions. He also competes in international mountain bike competitions and is a successful international cyclo cross rider, travelling to Belgium and France for competition. Roger is one of only a few elite cyclists who are consistent year round competitors.
2005 Performances
1st 2004 Irish Cyclo Cross C'ship
1st stg 1 Ras Tour of Ireland (IRL 2.2)
3rd stg Ras Tour of Ireland (IRE2.2)
4th Elite Kermesse - Alast (BEL)
4th Elite Kermesse - Londeerzle (BEL)
6th Elite Kermesse - Halle-Breedhout (BEL)
7th Elite Kermesse - Alast (BEL
10th Elite Kermesse - Geetbates (BEL)
1st stg 1 Pro Tour of North (Ire National Classic)
1st Irish Hill Climb C'ship
2nd stg 5 Tour of North (Ire National Classic)
2nd Irish tandem TT C'ship
3rd N.Ireland RR C'ship
5th Irish XC MX C'ship
6th Irish MTB XC OX C'ship
2006 Performances:
2nd Irish Cyclo Cross Championships
31st G.C. Tour of Siam (THA 2.2)
Michael Hutchinson
Event: Individual Pursuit + Road Time Trial
Previous CwG: Manchester England 2002
Team/Club: In-Gear Quickvit Racing Team
Status: Partner
Height: 1.78m
Weight: 74kg
D.o.B: 20/11/1973
Interests: Journalism, law, coaching.
Michael has excelled in competition during 2005 and has elevated his performance levels. He is now regarded as one of the United Kingdoms premier time trialists. Michael has also adapted his skills and ability to the velodrome where he achieved 3rd place in the Individual 4000m Pursuit at the British Championships.
The time trial course is very suitable to his style of riding and its characteristics ensure Michael is a possible medallist. The space between events ensures there is no effect on performance for both competition and Michael's preparation and experience will assure he is in optimum condition for his target events.
Previous CwG results;
15th Manchester - Road Time Trial
13th Manchester - Individual Pursuit
2005 performances;
1st National Rudy Project TT series
1st British 10m TT C'ship - 19m 11s
1st British 25m TT C'ship - 47m 15s
1st British 50m TT C'ship - 1hr 39m 40s
1st British 100m TT C'ship
1st British 12hr TT C'ship
1st British "Best all rounder" C'ship
1st Champion of champions TT
1st British National Time Trial series
1st World Masters 3000m pursuit
2nd British National Circuit TT C'ship
3rd British Track C'ships - 4000m Pursuit
