Local cyclist Matthew Doyle has been cycling for just over six years. At the young age of 17 he is destined to become a household name in the cycling world. Doyle recently moved to Belgium to begin the 2013 cycling season with Belgian cycling team ‘Jonge Renners’. He will be competing in races all over Europe in the coming months.

Doyle won his first European race in August last year. He came first in the Belgium Karmese and found his feet very quickly in Europe. Matthew had a number of wins and podium finishes during the 2012 season. He won the Northern Ireland Road Race Championship in July and his success continued until the very end of the season when he was selected on the Irish team for the World Championships in Holland. He took silver medals in both the National Junior Road Race and TT Championships. These finishes only served to underline his true form and potential.

Having completed his Leaving Certificate in June 2012, Doyle is now ready for the opportunity to further his cycling career. While in Belgium he will be living near the team’s base. Doyle has said that the ‘Jonge Renners’ ‘have produced some very good riders. Jelie Feys who is only a first year U23 has signed for EFC Quickstep. So I’m really looking forward to starting work with the team and hopefully getting a few results’.

   

Matthew will end the coming year cycling for his country in the World Championships in Italy. This is due to commence in August. His training and competition with the ‘Jonge Renners’ will have this young Donegal man well prepared and confident to cycle for Ireland.

In six short years this talented young man has progressed from participating in local Charity cycles to watching cycle races to now cycling for his country. Following this coming cycling season Doyle hopes to become professional/semi professional and cycle with the U23 team next year. This is one local young  man who is worth keeping a keen sporting eye on!