22 riders shortlisted for the 2026 Paudie Fitzgerald ‘Mol an Óige’ Award in alphabetical order.
James Armstrong (18)
The Belfast junior enjoyed a breakthrough year racing with the U19 Academy Région Sud / Bouches-du-Rhône setup.
He claimed overall victory at the 3-stage Tour des Landes after a dominant solo stage-1 win holding onto yellow to the finish, with fellow Irish riders Darragh Byrne and Hugh Óg Mulhearne completing the podium.
Earlier highlights included Silver medals in both the Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race and ITT at the Irish National Championships, a win at the Mountnugent GP, and a 7th in the Sean Nolan Meath Grand Prix.
- 1st – GC Tour des Landes (Junior)
- 1st – Stage 1 Tour des Landes (Junior)
- 2nd – Irish National Junior RR (U19)
- 2nd – Irish National Junior TT (U19)
- 1st – Mountnugent GP
Darragh Byrne (18)
Racing for AS Villemur Cyclisme in France, Byrne finished a fine second overall at the Tour des Landes, just behind Armstrong, and contributed to the team’s stage-2 TTT win.
He also placed sixth in the Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race and recorded solid results at the Tour Junior Causses-Aigoual-Cévennes (eighth overall) and other French junior events.
8th and 9th early in the season at the Des Hanlon Memorial and Bobby Power Memorial respectively along with 8th at the recent Cycleways Kermesse hosted by Bray Wheelers.
- 2nd – GC Tour des Landes (Junior)
- 1st – Stage 2 (TTT) Tour des Landes (Junior)
- 3rd – Stage 1 Tour des Landes (Junior)
- 6th – Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race
- 8th – GC Tour Junior Causses-Aigoual-Cévennes
Josh Callaly (19)
The Velo Performance U23 rider enjoyed a productive domestic campaign with 4 wins on Irish soil.
These came in Stage 1B of Rás Mumhan, the Moynalty GP, the Brendan & Kitty Campbell Memorial (after a long breakaway), and the recent McGinty Autumn Classic hosted by Bray Wheelers.
He also finished 17th in the Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race and raced regularly in Belgium and Italy.
4th on GC at Rás Mumhan, 3rd at the Mick Beggan Memorial, 4th at the Sean Nolan Meath Grand Prix, and 6th in the Izegem (crit.) in Belgium among other solid results this season.
- 1st – McGinty Autumn Classic
- 1st – Brendan & Kitty Campbell Memorial
- 1st – Moynalty GP
- 1st – Stage 1B Rás Mumhan
- 17th – Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race
Rory Condon (18)
Zappi Racing Team / O’Leary Stone Kanturk rider who mixed strong domestic form with regular Italian racing in 2026.
Early season 4ths in both the Bobby Power Memorial and Sliabh Luachra Clasaici and a podium at the Kieran MacMahon Memorial showed plenty of promise.
He finished 46th in the elite National Road Race, 30th overall at his first Rás Tailteann (with a 14th on Stage 3), and posted several just-outside-the-top-20 results in Italy including 21st at Coppa Ciuffenna and 25th at GP Varignana.
- 2nd – Kieran MacMahon Memorial
- 4th – Bobby Power Memorial
- 4th – Sliabh Luachra Clasaici
- 13th – GC Dornan Rás Mumhan
- 14th – GC Kanturk 3 Day
Jack Conroy (22)
The Velo Performance U23 rider impressed on the Belgian kermesse circuit, taking victory at the Moorslede Criterium and second place (plus U23 win) in Ichtegem.
He also finished fifth at the McGinty Autumn Classic and 14th in the Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race, with multiple other Top-10s in Flanders.
On home soil he got his season off to a winning start at the Bobby Power Memorial followed by another win at the Alan Towell Memorial.
He podiumed at both the Des Hanlon and Shay Elliott Memorials before pulling on the Irish Jersey for the first time in the 2026 Rás Tailteann.
- 1st – Moorslede Criterium
- 1st – Bobby Power and Alan Towell Memorials
- 2nd – Ichtegem (1st U23)
- 5th – McGinty Autumn Classic
- 14th – Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race
Tom Hughes (17)
The Kilcullen junior mixed good domestic form with racing in Belgium and Britain.
He took a strong second at the Mick Beggan Memorial, placed fourth in Nieuwerkerken Wijer (Belgian kermesse), and recorded consistent Top-15s including the Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race and stages of Fenwick’s Tour of the Mendips.
A strong late solo breakaway at the recent McGinty Autumn Classic saw him finish 13th and Most Aggressive Rider after being caught in the final kilometres.
- 2nd – GC Kanturk 3-day
- 2nd – Mick Beggan Memorial
- 4th – Nieuwerkerken Wijer
- 7th – Irish National Junior ITT
- 8th Stages 1 & 3 – Fenwick’s Tour of the Mendips (10th GC)
Fionn Killeen (18)
Killeen built up some more valuable experience across Irish stage races and international junior events.
Highlights included a stage podium at Rás Mumhan, strong showings at Rás Mhaigh Eo and the Course de la Paix Juniors, plus 14th in the junior national road race.
One of 2 juniors with Hugh Óg Mulhearne to be selected for the Irish Rás Tailteann Team finishing 22nd on GC in his first go at Ireland’s premier stage race, taking 13th on a tough Stage 4 into Baltinglass.
- 3rd – Stage 3 Dornan Rás Mumhan (10th GC)
- 4th – Stage 3 Rás Mhaigh Eo (10th GC)
- 6th – Stage 2b Course de la Paix Juniors
- 13th – Stage 4 Rás Tailteann (22nd GC)
- 14th – Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race
Tadhg Killeen (20)
Kilcullen CC’s Killeen mixed road and cyclocross. On the road he took third at both the Brendan & Kitty Campbell Memorial and Peter Bidwell Memorial, ninth at the Seán Nolan Meath GP, and 14th overall at Rás Mumhan.
He also raced the 2026 Rás Tailteann (36th GC) with a 10th into Banteer on Stage 2 and 19th on Stage 4 into Baltinglass on his first Rás.
He took Bronze at the Irish Men’s National Criterium and his end of season form has carried into the Cyclocross season with his latest win in Round 2 of the 2026 National Cyclo-Cross Series in Belfast.
- 3rd – Irish National Elite Men’s Criterium
- 3rd – Brendan & Kitty Campbell Memorial
- 3rd – Peter Bidwell Memorial
- 9th – Seán Nolan Meath GP
- 14th – GC Rás Mumhan
Greta Lawless (19)
The multi-discipline rider dominated domestic mountain-bike racing, winning both the Irish National XCO and XCC titles plus a round of the Lloyds National MTB Series #5.
She also took silver at the Irish cyclocross nationals and finished seventh in the elite women’s national road race while contesting World Cup and European Championship events.
A win at the Stephen Roche GP, 6th at Rás na mBan, and 7th in the Irish Women’s National Road Race in Cong.
- 1st – Irish National XCO
- 1st – Irish National XCC
- 1st – Stephen Roche GP
- 6th – GC Rás na mBan
- 7th – Irish Women’s National RR
James Mackey (17)
Mackey produced consistent top-10 results on the domestic circuit throughout the season. He finished fifth at the Annaclone GP, seventh in both the Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race and North Down GP, and eighth in the Irish National Junior Men’s ITT and Ulster Elite Men’s Road Race, while also placing ninth overall at Fenwick’s Tour of the Mendips.
- 5th – Travers Engineering Annaclone GP
- 7th – Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race
- 8th – Irish National Junior Men’s ITT
- 8th – Ulster Elite Men’s Road Race
- 9th – GC Fenwick’s Tour of the Mendips
Callum McCaffrey (19)
Racing for Natural Greatness – Rali – Alé, McCaffrey contested Spanish stage races (Vuelta a Zamora, Challenge Cinturon de la Mancha) alongside Irish events.
He took fourth at the Des Hanlon Memorial, sixth at the Boyne GP, and finished 37th in both the Irish Men’s National Road Race and Rás Tailteann overall.
He took Silver at the recent Irish Men’s National Hillclimb Championships in Dromara.
- 2nd – Irish National Elite Men’s Hillclimb
- 4th – Des Hanlon Memorial
- 6th – Boyne GP
- 10th – Seamus Kennedy Memorial
- 37th – GC Rás Tailteann
Rían McCrystal (17)
The Cannibal B Victorious junior claimed the overall title at the Junior Tour of Ireland, winning two stages and the points jersey.
He also finished fourth and fifth in the junior national TT and RR respectively and represented Ireland at the World Championships.
Two wins in his August Belgian kermesse campaign Slag der Zilveren Helmen – Halen and Nieuwerkerken Wijer with several top tens excellent preparation before heading to Montréal to represent Ireland.
- 1st – GC Junior Tour of Ireland with Stages 3 & 4
- 4th – Irish National Junior Men’s ITT
- 5th – Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race
- 7th – Irish National Elite Men’s Criterium
- 52nd – World Championships Junior Men’s ITT
Caleb McGreevey (17)
Primarily an MTB rider with the U19 Academy Région Sud setup, McGreevy took silver at the Irish National XCO championships and raced the World Championships and European Championships in the junior category.
On the road he recorded a sixth overall at Volta Girona, seventh at the Cycleways Kermesse, and ninth at the Junior Tour of Ireland, plus an eighth at the Irish National CX (U19).
- 2nd – Irish National XCO (junior)
- 6th – GCVolta Girona
- 7th – Cycleways Kermesse
- 9th GC – Junior Tour of Ireland
- 12th & 13th – Irish National Junior Men’s ITT & RR
Hugh Óg Mulhearne (18)
AS Villemur’s Mulhearne finished third overall at the Tour des Landes (and won the mountains jersey), took bronze in the junior Irish National Road Race and sixth in the ITT.
He finished 2nd in the Bobby Power Memorial, 5th on GC in Rás Mumhan, 4th in both Classic Coeur de Brenne (NAT) and Mapei Classic (NAT).
One of 2 juniors with Fionn Killeen on the Irish Rás Tailteann team, he finished his first Rás 50th on GC. He also raced Liège-Bastogne-Liège juniors (19th) and the World Championships finishing 70th in the Road Race.
- 3rd – GC Tour des Landes
- 1st – KOH Tour des Landes
- 3rd – Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race
- 6th – Irish National Junior Men’s ITT
- 19th Liège-Bastogne-Liège Juniors
Curtis Neill (20)
Velo Performance’s Neill produced a strong 2026 season with a standout overall victory and stage win at the Clive Tilley Two-Day in Britain while riding for Cycling Ulster.
He also finished 20th overall at Okolo jižních Čech / Tour of South Bohemia and contested Ronde de l’Isard and Tour of Rhodes.
He also claimed a stage win and second overall at Rás Mumhan, finished 20th overall (11th youth) at the Tour of South Bohemia, and gained further international experience at Ronde de l’Isard and the Tour of Rhodes.
- 1st – GC Clive Tiley Memorial Stage Race
- 1st – Stage 2 Clive Tiley Memorial Stage Race
- 1st – Stage 3 Dornan Rás Mumhan (2nd GC)
- 20th – GC Tour of South Bohemia (11th youth)
- 26th – Sundvolden GP
Aoife O’Brien (22)
DAS-Hutchinson rider O’Brien raced primarily on the road in 2026 (with track appearances for Ireland at the UEC European Championships, finishing 14th in the omnium and 11th in the elimination race).
On the road she claimed a stage win at Rás na mBan, multiple top-5 results in Belgian kermesses and criteriums, and competed in Pro/1.1-level events.
- 1st – Stage 2 Rás na mBan
- 1st – Langestraat Koerse (Fiitz GP Schoonaarde)
- 2nd – Stage 1 Rás na mBan
- 2nd – GP Désire Goossens (Drongen) / Sheffield Grand Prix
- 4th – Slag der Zilveren Helmen (Halen)
Killian O’Brien (20)
Team Skyline rider O’Brien competed mainly at Continental and National level in 2026, with strong showings in North American stage races (including a stage podium and youth classification results).
A domestic win at the Sean Nolan Meath Grand Prix, a top-10 at the Irish National Championships, and the Men’s Sprint jersey at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.
- 1st – Sean Nolan Meath Grand Prix
- 1st – Sprint classification (Sprint jersey), Philadelphia Cycling Classic
- 3rd – Stage 2, Tour de Beauce
- 2nd – Youth classification, Tour de Beauce
- 9th – Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race (Bronze U23)
Willem O’Connor (20)
Team Bricquebec Cotentin rider O’Connor raced a full French domestic calendar in 2026 alongside Irish races, delivering consistent results across national-level one-day events and stage races.
Highlights included a stage podium, 6th overall and the white youth jersey at Rás Tailteann, plus competitive showings in the UCI 2.2 Ronde de l’Oise (18th youth) and multiple Top-15 finishes on the French circuit.
- 2nd – Stage 2 Rás Tailteann
- 1st – Youth classification Rás Tailteann (6th GC)
- 5th – CLM Champenois
- 7th – Grand Prix de la Sainte-Anne (Bricquebec)
- 11th – Boucles de la Loire
Seán O’Kane (22)
The Pinergy Orwell Wheelers rider had a solid domestic season in 2026 with consistent Top-10 finishes.
Highlights included TTT victory on Stage 1a of Rás Mumhan, second place at the Collins Christle Memorial Race, and bronze at the Ulster Road Race Championships.
He also placed fourth at the Mountnugent GP, sixth at the North Down Grand Prix, Cycleways Kermesse and Emyvale Grand Prix, seventh at the Bobby Crilly Classic, eighth at the Brian McNamara Tuam Grand Prix, and tenth at the McGinty Autumn Classic.
Additional results included 12th in the Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race.
- 12th – Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race
- 2nd – Collins Christle Memorial Race
- 3rd – Ulster Elite Men’s Road Race
- 1st – Stage 1a Rás Mumhan TTT
- 4th – Mountnugent GP
Aliyah Rafferty (19)
Rode her first senior year with DAS-Hutchinson, Rafferty continued her transition from a strong junior career with starts at the Baloise Ladies Tour and other continental races.
Domestically she shone at Rás na mBan (4th overall with a stage top-5) and took fifth in the Irish National Elite Women’s Road Race plus sixth in the national time trial.
- 4th – GC Rás na mBan
- 4th – Stage 3 Rás na mBan
- 5th – Irish National Elite Women’s Road Race
- 6th – Irish National Elite Women’s ITT
- 9th – Emyvale Grand Prix
George Sevastopulo (18)
The junior rider delivered some consistent domestic results in 2026, highlighted by a win in the Mondello Series and a strong fourth place in the Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race, and taking the Leinster Elite Men’s Road Race title with a determined dash to the line in the final kilometres.
He also secured top-15 finishes at the Mick Beggan Memorial, Noel Teggart Memorial and Waller Cup while contesting international junior events including the Course de la Paix Juniors and Watersley Junior Challenge.
- 1st – Leinster Elite Men’s Road Race
- 1st – Mondello Series Round 3
- 4th – Irish National Junior Men’s Road Race
- 5th – Mick Beggan Memorial
- 13th – Noel Teggart Memorial
Matthew Walls (19)
APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery’s Walls had several wins on home soil and claimed his first national title with the Irish National Elite Men’s Hill Climb.
He took the Boyne GP, 2 rounds of the Mondello Series, the Bobby Crilly Classic, the Collins Christle Memorial, the Maxi Maguire Cup, and the Cycleways Kermesse.
He also finished 27th in the Irish National Men’s Road Race, second in the Irish National U23 Men’s ITT, and raced the Sibiu Cycling Tour and the Tour of Romania.
For his first participation in the Rás Tailteann he participated in the team effort that saw his teammate Conn McDunphy take the overall win.
- 1st – Bobby Crilly Classic, Boyne GP, 2 rounds of Mondello Series, Collins Christle Memorial, Maxi Maguire Cup, and Cycleways Kermesse.
- 1st – Irish National Elite Men’s Hill Climb
- 2nd – Irish National U23 Men’s ITT
- 3rd – Bobby Power Memorial
- 27th – Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race
