Eoin Clifford, Velo Revolution / Speed Queen, raced with the calm aggression and tactical awareness that mark him out as a rider who reads the race and strikes when the opportunity is right.
After moving into the colours of Velo Revolution / Speed Queen from Team Dan Morrissey Pissei, the 24-year-old settled quickly.
He is a reliable, race-hardened operator who can climb, has a decent turn of pace and is prepared to work hard in the moves that count.
In a domestic scene where bigger teams often have numbers on their side, Clifford regularly managed to stay involved, committing fully when the moment arrives and convert opportunities into podium results.
Key Results and Consistency
Clifford’s early-and mid-season form was very good. His results included:
- 1st – Kilteely GP (Kieran MacMahon Memorial Cup)
- 3rd – Sliabh Luachra Clasaicí
- 3rd – The Crotty Cup
- 3rd – M&M Memorial Classic
- 3rd – Athenry GP
- 4th – Tour of Mournes
- 5th – Lacey Cup
- 5th – Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar GP
- 8th – Donal Crowley Memorial
- 8th – Waller Cup
- 9th – Moynalty GP
These performances delivered 137 points and 12th place on the final C1 rankings.
He started the year with intent, trying to force splits in difficult conditions at the Lacey Cup on his first day in the new jersey.
Then on to an attritional, cagey race at Sliabh Luachra where he went clear alone before being joined by a select group over the final climb and contesting the sprint for a strong podium.
At the Crotty Cup he was again in the thick of it on a demanding course against a Burren CC stacked field, bridging and then forming part of a strong move that stayed away, converting the opportunity into another podium after the confidence-boosting win at Kilteely a couple of weeks earlier.
Later at the Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar GP he showed the other side of his racing: disciplined positioning near the front, staying with the key splits on the rolling course and nearly closing a late gap in the final metres for another high placing.
Race Craft in a Numerical Game
Such is the nature of Irish domestic racing that larger teams frequently enjoy a numbers advantage. Clifford tries not to let that dictate the outcome.
He races his own race, goes with the moves, and is always scanning for the moment an attack or counter can yield the greatest return.
That approach produced the Kilteely victory and the string of podiums and top-tens that underpinned his ranking, even when the odds were against a solo or small-group success.
The form was building strongly through spring and early summer. Unfortunately a collarbone injury ruled him out for the second part of the season, interrupting what had been a promising trajectory.
you had Burren CC and Orwell Wheelers who were both very strong battling it out today.
I just tried to raCe my own race. Go with the moves.
– Eoin Clifford, Velo Revolution / Speed Queen
It was encouraging to see him back on the road to recovery at the recent Munster Elite Men’s Road Race, where he returned to bottle duty supporting teammates. The aggressive, leave-it-all-out-there style that defines him remains intact though.
Looking Ahead to 2027
A campaign that produced a win, multiple podiums and regular Top-10 finishes leaves Clifford well placed for more in 2027.
Fully recovered and racing in the Velo Revolution / Speed Queen colours, the expectation is clear: he should be capable of more of the same along with further trips to the top step with his competitive, committed racing style.
This is the next article in the series highlighting the riders who finished inside the 2026 C1 Top 20. The previous article highlighted 13th place Jack Conroy‘s 2026 season.
