The Irish road racing season gets underway this weekend, and following changes made to last year’s calendar and a review process at the end of last season, this season will see some adjustments. This will include changes to points allocations, giving riders with the intention of progressing through the ranks the opportunity to do so. 2026 will also see changes to event naming to avoid confusion, and calendar adjustments to avoid clashes.
The first of the 15 National Single Grade Races takes place on Sunday, March 1st as Navan Road Club host the Seamus Kennedy Memorial.
A week later the second National Grade race of the year will take place in Cork with the Sliabh Luachra Clasaici on March 8th. The Donal Crowley and Kay Stratton Memorial Races are next on the National Grade calendar set for March 15th when Blarney CC play host in Co. Cork.
Drogheda Wheelers will host Coombes Connor on the 22nd of March, before the Des Hanlon Memorial takes place on March 29th in Carlow.
The PJ Logan Cup is set to be hosted by Island Wheelers in Tyrone on April 12th, while the John Drumm Cup takes place on April 19th in Kerry, hosted by Currow.
The Waller Cup will take place on April 26th as Bohermeen host in Co. Meath, and a brief break from National Single Grade action brings us to Galway Bay CC’s Galway Classic on June 7th before the Noel Teggart Memorial, hosted by Banbridge, a week later on June 14th in Co. Down. Navan RC play host again for The Sean Nolan Meath GP, which takes place on June 21st.
Time Trial National Championships are set for the 25th of June in Mayo, before the road race National Championships on June 28th and 29th, also set for Co. Mayo.
Lakeside Wheelers are set to host the Mullingar GP on July 5th. Moynalty will host a week later as the Moynalty GP takes place in Meath on July 12th.
Racing returns to Galway on July 19th for the Brian and Cora McNamara Tuam GP, hosted by Tuam CC. Another short break from National Grade events follows the Tuam GP before the Bobby Crilly Classic, hosted by Phoenix CC on August 16th to round out the National Grade events for the year.
Daire Feeley topped the C1 rankings in 2026. Hot on his heels were Gareth O’Neill and Odhran Doogan, who finished in second and third respectively. O’Neill and Doogan will no doubt once again look to challenge Feeley in 2026.
Junior Aliyah Rafferty came out atop the Women’s Standings, adding to her National Championship win in the summer. Rafferty has signed for DAS-Hutchinson for 2026, and her first year at Under 23 may see her venturing abroad on a more regular basis, leaving more points up for grabs in domestic races. Last year’s second ranked rider, Abi Conway, made her debut in an Ireland jersey in 2025, and will no doubt look to push on again in 2026. Doireann Killeen claimed third spot in last year’s rankings and can never be ruled out on the domestic front.
In the Junior competition Toby Sweetman took top spot in a year that also saw him make his national team debut and take a stage of the Junior Tour of Ireland. Dungarvan’s Philip O’Connor sat second in the Junior rankings, followed closely by Rory Condon. With a new batch of Juniors making the step up from U16, 2026 is set to be another exciting season in the Junior ranks.
Marcus Flavin sat atop the C2 standings at the end of 2025, joined by Barry Meade in second, and Ben Murphy in third. Meanwhile the C3 standings were topped by Martin O’Loughlin, with Gavin Stapleton and Denis Lynch in second and third respectively.
Entries are currently open for our first two National Single Grade Races, run by Navan on March 1st and Sliabh Luachra on March 8th, and there’s still time to enter HERE.
