As the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Mountain Bike World Series is about to get under way, with around 40 countries competing on the international stage each year, Ireland's top downhill riders, Oisín O’Callaghan and Rónán Dunne, are gearing up for another exciting season.
Downhill mountain biking is an off-road sport where riders navigate trails and rough terrain at very high speeds. It’s a high-risk sport, that requires serious training, protective gear, and experience.
At just 22 years old, Rónán Dunne has climbed the ranks to number four in the world, proving himself as one of the fastest riders on the circuit.
With a World Cup win and a National Championship already under his belt, 2025 is sure to be another big year for him.
"Most riders that come into leagues race as juniors. But it's quite rare for somebody to not race or do well in juniors and then do well in Elites. So, a lot of people were surprised," Rónan said.
Last year, he finished fifth in the Loudenvielle World Cup and sixth at the World Championships in Andorra, securing his place at the top. Rónan has raced with some of the biggest teams in the sport, including his current team, Mondraker Factory Racing DH.
Oisín O’Callaghan, now 21, has already made history as one of Ireland’s most successful downhill riders. He burst onto the scene in 2020, winning the Junior World Championship in Leogang, Austria, and he hasn’t slowed down since.
In 2023, he became the first Irish rider ever to win a World Cup event, taking the top spot in Snowshoe, USA. The pair made history at Snowshoe by securing a one-two finish, an achievement that firmly placed Ireland among the best in the sport.
"Being the first Irish guy to win an elite World Cup and be the first junior World Cup for Ireland and junior world champs, there's only one other one that I'm looking at, which is the Elite Rainbows as well, so then I'd have all four," Oisín said.
Last year, he added another World Cup podium in Leogang and claimed the Irish National Championship. His consistency has kept him among the best, reaching a career-high world ranking of 7th in 2024.
As of now, he’s 12th in the world, but with the new season just getting started, he’ll be looking to climb those rankings again.
Meanwhile, here in Ireland, the 2025 Irish mountain biking season has just kicked off (29 March) with races taking place across the country over the next few months.
As Oisín and Rónán prepare to line up against the best in the world, they’re ready to add another season of groundbreaking achievements to their names.
For more on Oisín and Rónán's journey, tune into Nationwide tonight at 7pm on RTÉ One.
