Irishman Munroe goes to Aigle

Young Irish rider Martin Munroe has been handed a dream opportunity to spend two months at the World Cycling Centre in Aiglea - and he's hoping a good showing there will see him stay until September.

Eighteen-year-old Munroe, who hails from the Western Lakes town of Partry received the news on Tuesday, March 28, that the Centre had invited him to avail of some of the best coaching expertise in the world - and he flew out on Friday last, March 31, from Dublin. "I am delighted. It's a really big opportunity for me to get the two-month trial, and if I do well I hope I will be kept until September," said Munroe before departing.

"I am in fairly good shape this year. I have only done two races so far, but I did well in both of them - I was ninth in Carrick-on-Suir and second in the Sheefrey Challenge in Westport."

Munroe is a product of the Western Lakes nursery and has been fostered by the club's coach Padraig Marrey, who previously undertook a major coaching course at Aigle. Munroe is a regular on Irish teams, and previously represented the country in the European Youth Olympics. He will prepare like a professional in Aigle and his natural cycling ability - honed in recent years by Padraig Marrey - will be fine-tuned still further. It could pave the way for a professional career in the sport he loves.