2026 is the inaugural year for the Paudie Fitzgerald ‘Mol an Óige’ Award, recognising outstanding up-and-coming Irish cyclists in the U23 category still on the development pathway primarily through the Irish racing scene.
Keeping with Irish Cycling Hub’s core aim of honouring past cyclists, celebrating our current crop, and encouraging future champions to reach their full potential, this award brings those three aspects together.
Tribute to Past Generations
Although named after, Paudie Fitzgerald, winner of the 1956 Rás Tailteann, the award is intended to represent the generations gone before us and their lasting contributions to Irish cycling.
This year alone saw the passing of Cormac MacLynn of Antrim (Stage 7 winner in Rás Tailteann 1959), Stephen Delaney (1984 Rás Tailteann winner), and Sé O’Hanlon (four-time Rás Tailteann winner and multiple stage winner in the 1960s).
May they and others from our cycling family who have passed away recently rest in peace.
Selection Process
Step 1: Guiding Criteria for the 22-Rider Shortlist
The following points served as guidelines when compiling the initial shortlist of 22 riders for this inaugural year:
- Holding an Irish licence (or being eligible to represent Ireland)
- Being of UCI Under-23 age, racing age approximately 19 (though younger possible) to 22 in the award year
- Not contracted to a UCI WorldTeam or UCI ProTeam for the current or following season
- Racing primarily for a continental, development, club or national team
- Racing predominantly in Ireland
- Demonstrating a high level of performance on the Irish domestic calendar (strong results in C1 races, National Championships, Rás Tailteann, Rás na mBan, or equivalent)
These were guidelines rather than rigid rules. A degree of flexibility was retained so that outstanding talent could be recognised. For the inaugural 2026 edition the guidelines were applied broadly, resulting in a strong shortlist of 22 riders.
This number itself underlines the wealth of young talent currently coming through Irish cycling.
Step 2: Peer Rankings by Top Domestic Riders
Twelve current top-ranked Irish domestic riders gave of their time to provide the initial rankings for their top five riders from the shortlist of 22, each individually attributing 10 points, 7 points, 5 points, 3 points and 1 point.
The inclusion of these riders at this stage of the process was to recognise their superb seasons and to be representative of the thousands of other cyclists lining up every weekend at every grade and the efforts they make in training and racing.
The work being carried out by clubs cannot be overstated. Not only do they organise races and events but also invest huge amounts of time and energy into their underage structures.
These clubs, coaches, volunteers and individuals are far too numerous to list here, but the work is obvious in the quality of young riders coming through their ranks.
Indeed, the shortlist could have been extended even further given the wealth of young talent on the way through.
Step 3: Final Selection by Dillon Corkery, Team Picnic PostNL
The top three riders from the 22-rider shortlist (based on the accumulative points from the 12 top-ranked Irish riders) are passed to Dillon Corkery.
Dillon is given these top three riders along with their points attribution by each of the 12 riders, but anonymously.
He then choses the winner from his professional WorldTour rider perspective, also drawing on his own experience of having come up through the ranks of domestic Irish racing, through club-level racing on the Continent, Continental team level, and now to WorldTour pro level.
This progression makes him an ideal final arbitrator, offering a unique perspective that perfectly complements the rankings provided by the top-ranking Irish domestic riders.
Dillon picks one winner. There will not be a second or third prize nor podium for this award, nor rankings of the 22-rider shortlist. This was intended as a snapshot of the year because the quality of riders involved and their commitment to racing has been exceptional.
The winner therefore represents all young Irish riders’ performances and serves as an encouragement and recognition to them from their more senior peers to continue working towards their full potential.
Announcement
The winner will be contacted by Dillon Corkery on Friday 23rd October 2026 before 12pm (Irish time) and announced LIVE on the Irish Cycling Hub Instagram Stories at 8pm (Irish time) on Saturday 24th October 2026.
Thank you to everyone who gave of their time to be involved in this inaugural award.
Mol an Óige…
