Limerick's Lucy O'Donnell Joins Velo Performance Cycling Team

Lucy O’Donnell of Limerick has joined the Velo Performance Team with riders in the UK and Europe.

O’Donnell who is a junior rider will join other juniors and also elite who all race together. Last season O’Donnell was selected onto the Irish team for the World Cyclocorss Championships.

Aswell as a number of elite wins at home, O’Donnell has performed well across the water winng the junior race in the fifth rounds of the HSBC National Trophy Cyclocross in Pembrey last month.

With Velo, O’Donnell will get the chance to ride against Pro from both Britain and wider Europe.

O’Donnell has previous experience with Velo, who are run by a Portuguese Business, after riding in their colours at Rás na mBan in September where she was the best Irish rider for a period before ultimately finishing 5^th.

Lucy can be followed on twitter @Lucyodonnell5O (that an O not a 0)

Rider Profile: Lucy is 16 years old and racing as a first year Junior (under 19). 2019 was a big year for gaining experience and racing at senior and elite level. Lucy has won many races at youth level (age 12 to U16) including many national championships medals.

2019 was a huge step up, racing world class women to gain experience and racing elite women at home. In Ireland the women are classed into three categories, WI, W2 and W3. Lucy started as W3 in 2019 and finished off the road session been upgraded to WI, this is the elite level, and Lucy is currently the youngest W1 in the country. Lucy races Road, Cyclocross and some Track. 

Cyclocross highlights for 2019.

• Elite Women’s Cyclocross National Championships: Browns meddle.
• Irish team selection UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Denmark. racing U23.
• Telenet UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Pont-Château France: Top level Pro race.
• Attended several British Elite National Cyclocross races over the winter
• USA cycling talent camp. Lucy was invited to attend the camp in New England. 
• UCI Camp in Aigle, Switzerland.  Lucy was invited to attend the Union Cycling International camp.
• Elite EKS Cyclocross race in Switzerland U23 level.
• First Junior in the fifth round of the HSBC National Trophy Cyclocross in UK

Road Racing highlights 2019.

• Overall winner of the Irish Women’s Intermediate League (eight races)
• Irish Team selection, stage race in Britain.
• Irish team selection European championship, Netherlands. Under 19
• Irish Team selection World Road Championship, Yorkshire. Under 19
• Raced in Belgium, GentWevelgem Junior Women’s Race.
• Tour of Omagh, Stage race 6^th Overall and 1^st Under 23 
• Rás na mBan, Ireland international women’s stage race, 5 days with 6 stages. Lucy held the green jersey for best place Irish rider until she crashed and lost the jersey that day. Lucy went on to finish well up overall and her performance during the race was well above her years.