Is the first time you have had support from the DRF? (if not, how long have you been funded)

A: Yes. I am very pleased that 2014 will be the first year I’ll be supported by the DRF.

What is your cycling history ? (how long have you been cycling?, who introduced you to cycling, which club are member of  in the UK?

A: I started cycling when I was 9 years old. I was introduced to the sport by my uncle Noel, who now lives in Australia! I still remember learning how to ride without stabilisers in his garden! At the time, the sport was nothing but fun. Every weekend I would travel to races all around Ireland with my friends, squeezed into into a bus with all of our bikes! It was then I really fell in love with cycling! I was a very consistent youth rider, always in the prizes and picking up a numerous  wins. The highlight of my years in underage was being shortlisted for the European Youth Olympics. It was as a Junior that I realised I could be quite a decent rider if I put my mind to it. I worked hard and picked up a lot of nice results in Ireland which got me selected for the first time to ride for my country. I have been a member of the National set-up ever since.  I first experienced Belgium for 7 weeks in 2011, as a 2nd year junior. It’s fair to say I got my ass kicked! - However I gained valuable experiences which brought me to 2012. After I finished my exams I spent 4 months of the summer living in Oudenaarde. I spent both 2011 & 2012 with ASFRA Racing Team.

In 2013, my first year as a full-time cyclist, I joined the top competition Belgian team Terra Footwear-Bicycle Line in my pursuit to try and become professional. I had a rough first half to the season with a lot of bad luck, illness and crashes. However, I made up for it in my second half to the year and picked up some nice results as well as putting in some notable performances. I am pleased with my progress and believe the experiences I’ve gained will be invaluable for the coming years. The highlight of my year was riding the UCI u23 Nations Cup - Tour of Flanders as part of the Irish National Team. The professional version of the race is my favourite on the UCI Calendar, so to be able to ride the u23 one was very cool! The fact it started in Oudenaarde - even cooler!

What team are you joining in 2014? Tell us a bit about your team (any notable riders, famous DS anything like that)

A: I will be joining up with Terra Safety Shoes in Belgium for the 2014 season. For a Belgian team they opt for a predominately English-speaking team, which helps a lot. I was with them last year, 2013, and hope to make 2014 a bigger better year! I am working very hard and have big ambitions for 2014, so I hope I can do the support of the DRF justice.

Have they a website we can link to?

A: Sorry, no active website.

What is your race programme looking like?

A: At the moment I know a few events I will be doing. The An Post Ras is a definite. I am honoured to be a part of the Irish National Team, therefore will hope to do a nice race programme with them. My team calendar in Europe will include some UCI 1.2 events, Belgian and French stage races and Interclubs, and the infamous kermess races!

Are you going on a training camp with the team?

A: No, Not with Terra - but possibly through Cycling Ireland. For now the plan is to go to Mallorca for 10 days or so!

When are you heading out to Europe/USA?

 A: I’ll be travelling to Belgium in early March to start the classics season! Can’t wait to get racing…

 Tell us your FaceBook and Twitter names and any blogs or website links.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/eoin.mccarthy.cycling

Twitter : @Eoin_McCarthy
Website: http://eoinmccarthycycling.blogspot.ie/