Josh Callaly, Velo Performance U23 Development Team, finished the 2026 Irish C1 season ranked 8th after a campaign defined by four hard-fought wins, mature race analysis and the calm ability to turn every situation into an opportunity.
The 19-year-old from Dublin began the year gathering international kilometres in Greece before exploding into domestic form with a powerful uphill sprint win on Stage 1b of Dornan Rás Mumhan. That early success set the tone for a season in which Callaly repeatedly demonstrated the sharp focus and on-the-bike problem-solving that mark him out as a genuine prospect.
Key Domestic Results
Callaly’s points total was built on a mixture of consistency and decisive victories:
- 1st – Stage 1b Dornan Rás Mumhan
- 1st – Moynalty GP
- 1st – Brendan & Kitty Campbell Memorial
- 1st – McGinty Autumn Classic
- 4th – Seán Nolan Meath Grand Prix
- 4th – Cycleways Kermesse
- 17th – Irish National Elite Men’s Road Race (9th U23)
- 3rd – Mick Beggan Memorial
- 6th – Izegem Criterium (Belgium)
These results underlined a rider operating at the sharp end of the domestic calendar while absorbing valuable racing lessons abroad.
International Foundations and Early Momentum
The season opened with the Tour of Rhodes and Rhodes GP, where Callaly gained early international experience in the Velo Performance colours. He followed that with solid placings in Norway and France before returning home to claim Stage 1b of Dornan Rás Mumhan with a long, powerful sprint that became something of a trademark.
A fourth place at the Seán Nolan Meath Grand Prix and a composed 17th at the National Championships (9th in the U23 category) showed a rider who could read the race, listen to his body and wait for the legs to match his ambitions. Mistakes were quietly absorbed and converted into templates for improvement rather than sources of frustration.
July Winning Streak
July brought the purest expression of Callaly’s form. At the Moynalty GP he absorbed an early struggle in the heat, stayed on the front foot, bridged to the decisive move and then timed a long, confident sprint perfectly against Gareth O’Neill.
Two weeks later at the Brendan & Kitty Campbell Memorial he went clear almost from the gun with Peter McLean and Tadhg Killeen. The gap never grew beyond 40-50 seconds on a windy, threshold day, yet Callaly remained unfazed. On the final lap, sensing a crosswind section after the finish line, he attacked hard, opened 15-20 seconds and then simply hung on through the headwind to the line.
The cool, measured approach – treating the unexpected early escape as a puzzle rather than a problem – delivered his third win of the season and confirmed the maturity that belies his age.
Late-Season Mastery and Belgian Experience
September brought a fourth victory at the McGinty Autumn Classic. After a difficult previous day in the Cycleways Kermesse, Callaly and teammate Jack Conroy arrived with a clear plan. Conroy infiltrated the dangerous mid-race move while Callaly conserved energy before bridging across.
Once reunited the pair covered for each other until, with five kilometres remaining and the race momentarily stalled, Callaly jumped clear with three others. Into the long drag and stiff headwind he started the sprint in second position, responded instantly when Dean Harvey launched, and held on for a perfectly timed win.
Interspersed with these domestic peaks was a productive block of Belgian kermesse racing. Sixth in the Izegem criterium, 14th at Hulste and further solid placings added another layer of experience on the technical, chaotic Flanders circuits that have forged generations of Irish talent.
Looking Ahead to 2027
A campaign that began with international exposure, delivered four domestic wins, a solid National Championships ride and valuable Belgian kilometres Josh Callaly are promising signs for 2027.
The cool-headed focus, race-reading ability and willingness to treat every unforeseen circumstance as a challenge rather than a setback are already present in abundance.
Still only 19 and racing in the Velo Performance U23 Development Team colours, Callaly has shown he knows how to win and, just as importantly, how to learn. More victories and further progress on the international stage are well within his grasp.
This is the next article in the series highlighting the riders who finished inside the 2026 C1 Top 20. The previous article covered 9th place Luke Smith’s 2026 season.
