Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery, produced a breakthrough 2026 campaign packed with victories, a national title and the inaugural Paudie Fitzgerald ‘Mol an Óige’ Award to finish 10th on the C1 national rankings.
The 19-year-old from Mulhussey, Co. Meath, stepped straight into senior racing and immediately made his mark. Aggressive, consistent and fearless against established riders, Walls collected multiple wins across the Irish calendar while also gaining valuable international experience.
Key Domestic Results
Walls’ 2026 form was exceptional from the opening races:
- 1st – Boyne GP 2026
- 1st – Mondello Series Round 1 & Round 6
- 1st – Maxi Maguire Cup
- 1s – Collins Christle Memorial
- 1st – Bobby Crilly Classic
- 1st – Bray Wheelers / Cycleways Kermesse
- 1st – Irish National Elite Men’s Hill Climb Championships (first national title)
- 2nd – Irish National U23 Men’s Individual Time Trial
- 2nd – Mountnugent Grand Prix
- 3rd – Bobby Power Memorial
- 5th – Brian & Cora McNamara Memorial
Further strong placings included 8th at the Shay Elliott Memorial, 8th in the National Senior Criterium Championships, 10th at the Donal Crowley Memorial, and Top-20 finishes in other C1 events including the Seamus Kennedy Memorial and Seán Nolan Meath Grand Prix.
These performances underpinned a points total that placed him firmly inside the Top 10 and highlighted a rider operating at the sharp end of every major domestic target.
I’M NOT DOING ANY U23 RACES, JUST STRAIGHT IN WITH THE SENIORS.
– Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
Early Season Momentum and Mondello Run
Walls signalled his intent early with victory at the Boyne GP in March, followed by a podium at the Bobby Power Memorial and solid Top-10s. He then claimed Round 1 of the Mondello Series before returning later in the summer to win Round 6, making it three wins from three starts in the series and underlining his consistency on the technical Mondello circuit.
Summer Winning Streak
August brought a purple patch. Walls took the Maxi Maguire Cup, followed 24 hours later by the Collins Christle Memorial, then sealed a stylish solo win at the Bobby Crilly Classic in Belfast, his fourth consecutive victory. On a re-routed circuit he attacked on the final climb and held off a quality chase group containing Lindsay Watson and Luke Smith.
He continued the form into September with a commanding win at the inaugural Cycleways Kermesse, leading home teammate Conn McDunphy for an APS Pro Cycling 1-2 on the fast Beehive circuit in Wicklow. McDunphy described it as a “masterclass” from the young rider.
National Titles and Championships
At the National Championships Walls produced two outstanding rides. He took silver in the U23 Men’s Individual Time Trial and claimed his first national title with victory in the Elite Men’s Hill Climb Championships later in the year.
An 8th place in the National Senior Criterium Championships a good warm up for the 5-stage Rás Tailteann.
International Experience and Team Support
Beyond the Irish calendar Walls gained valuable racing kilometres abroad. He contested the Rás Tailteann in his debut, contributing strongly to teammate Conn McDunphy’s overall victory – including riding the final 100 km on the front as McDunphy sealed the yellow jersey in Dunboyne.
He raced the Sibiu Cycling Tour and the Tour of Romania, where he impressed with approximately 100 km of breakaway action on Stage 3 while scoring mountains points.
I think it’s really good that I know I can be there in the races at this level.
It gives you more confidence going into the next one.
– Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
He also lined up at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic against WorldTour opposition and other Continental-level events.These days out, combined with starts further afield, added experience and racing sharpness that fed directly into the domestic peaks.
Paudie Fitzgerald ‘Mol an Óige’ Award
The culmination of the season came with Walls being named the inaugural winner of the Paudie Fitzgerald ‘Mol an Óige’ Award. The new annual prize from Irish Cycling Hub recognises outstanding young Irish riders still on the developmental pathway.
Selected through a rigorous peer-driven process involving top domestic riders and final decision by WorldTour professional Dillon Corkery, the award carried a €300 prize and a custom-made Dingle Crystal medal.
I have no doubt that you’ll succeed in what you want to do over the next couple of years.
– Dillon Corkery, Team Picnic PostNL on announcing the Mol an Óige award.
Looking Ahead to 2027
A campaign that produced multiple wins, a national title, silver in the U23 time trial, consistent Top-10 finishes and the inaugural ‘Mol an Óige‘ Award leaves Walls extremely well placed for 2027.
Still only 19 and racing in the APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery colours, the expectation is clear: he should be capable of more of the same, and much more, with his aggressive, energitic, chess-like racing style.
This is the next article in the series highlighting the riders who finished inside the 2026 C1 Top 20. The previous article covered 11th place Conn McDunphy’s 2026 season.
