European Downhill and Cross-country Championships 2025 – EOI

The Cycling Ireland Off-road Commission (CIORC) has opened its selection process for the 2025 UCI Downhill (DHI) and Cross-country (XCO) UEC European Championships (including cross-country short course (XCC)).

The Cross-country events will be held in Melgaço, Portugal 23-27 July. Event link below.

https://www.uec.ch/en/event/255/2025-uec-mtb-european-championships

The Downhill championships will be held in Molina, Spain from 2-3 August. Event link below.

https://www.uec.ch/en/event/263/2025-uec-mtb-downhill-european-championships

Juniors and Elite riders seeking selection and who meet the UCI eligibility criteria in their event or discipline are invited to complete an expression of interest form via this link (here) by 23:59 on Monday 23 June 2025.

Categories
XC
Men Elite, Women Elite, Men U23, Women U23, Men Junior and

Women Junior.

XCC
Men Elite, Women Elite, Men Junior and Women Junior.

Maximum 8 riders to start per category/per nation.

DHI
Junior Men & Women (17-18 years old)

Elite Men & Women (19+)

Cycling Ireland can enter 3 Riders free of charge.  An additional 6 Riders may be registered for Men Elite and 8 for Men Junior. All quota slot allocations are subject to selection processes and, if successful, any rider selected to avail of one of these slot allocations must pay for their own entry.

Note: There are downhill race categories for U15, U17 and Masters. Cycling Ireland is not obliged to make these entries via the UEC system. Individuals can enter via the Local Organising directly.

The CIORC will lead on this with an Expression of Interest process and defined selection criteria. The process is as per the published National Team Selection Policy:
https://www.cyclingireland.ie/downloads/CyclingIrelandNationalTeamSelectionPolicy2025V3.pdf

Eligibility Criteria
The riders must hold a 2025 UCI competition membership licence with the country code “IRELAND”. Applications should contain results within the period 1 January 2025 to 23 June 2025.

Selection Aims:

Selection aim 1:

“select riders that are medal competitive”

select riders that are currently medal competitive in any of the Championship MTB events and across all categories

Selection aim 2:

“select riders that are capable of a top 15 / top 20%”

In the absence of being able to meet selection aim 1, select riders that are capable of a competitive level of performance and have demonstrated this via race results & progression this season

Selection aim 3:

“select riders that have evidenced a performance progression this year in International UCI ranked events, are capable of qualifying for the finals and/or will benefit from the experience of the event towards future Major Championships”

In the absence of being able to meet selection aim 1 or 2, select riders that have evidenced a performance progression this year in International UCI ranked events (higher level racing will hold a higher weighting e.g. World Series performances are more relevant than C1 which in turn are more relevant than C2) and are capable of qualifying for the finals or will benefit from the experience of the event as part of a trajectory of improvement towards becoming competitive enough to satisfy selection aims 1 or 2 for future events

The team will be selected on a performance orientated basis by the selection panel. The selection panel will consider riders to be competitive at this level and who would also benefit from experiencing competition at this level towards being more competitive in the future. The panel may select fewer riders than the maximum number permitted under UCI rules should they not meet the desired selection criteria.

The selection panel will conduct selections fairly and without bias in making its final decision. A rider must be uninjured and currently race fit in order to gain selection. Verification of this may be sought if necessary. If a selected rider is unable to compete for any reason, substitute selections will be at the discretion of the selection panel. There is no automatic selection, nor will any performance in one event or competition be a defining factor in selecting one rider over another. This includes National Championships.

Following the closing date for expressions of interest, the selection panel will conduct an information gathering exercise to collate all of the forms and supporting comments, and then subsequently reconvene within a week to conduct the selection itself.

Those interested in putting their name forward need to complete the form by close of play on 23:59 on Monday 23 June 2025. It is important that the athletes submitting an expression of interest have completed their forms fully so we possess all of their relevant performances and supporting information to hand when the panel meet.

Any queries can be directed to secretary@offroadcyclingireland.ie

• Every rider submitting an EOI will be considered solely on demonstrated merit
• No rider will gain automatic selection irrespective of Palmares or results
• The panel will select based on verifiable information submitted
• Riders are wholly responsible to include all relevant information in their EOI in the agreed format for submission: not included = not considered
• There is no obligation to fill all slots allocated to Ireland by the UEC – this is at the discretion of the panel based on performance level of applicants satisfying stated Selection Aims
• The Information gathering meeting and Selection panel meeting will take place in the week that follows. We will endeavour to contact all athletes within 24hrs of the selection panel meeting taking place with the outcomes from selection

By submitting this FORM (here) you confirm that you meet all the eligibility criteria to be selected, and that all information contained is true to the best of your knowledge