Armagh's Seth Dunwoody Signs WorldTour Deal: A Dream Realised for Irish Cycling
In a moment that feels straight out of a sporting fairytale, 20-year-old Seth Dunwoody from Armagh has signed a contract with the Bahrain Victorious WorldTour team for the 2027 season. It is a dream come true for the young man who has already captured the hearts of cycling fans across this island.
Dunwoody steps up from the team's development squad, where he has established himself as one of the finest U-23 riders in the world. His recent achievements include stage wins at the Giro NextGen, Turul Romaniei and Circuit des Ardennes, followed by this year's national road race title in Cong in June. He also finished as runner-up at two of the most prestigious races on the calendar, the U-23 Paris-Roubaix Espoirs and Gent-Wevelgem classics.
Showing his versatility, Dunwoody ventured onto the velodrome for the first time in years and took the European U-23 title for Ireland in the points race in Cottbus in July.
How did Seth Dunwoody get his big break in cycling?
Dunwoody began racing in Belgium during his school summer holidays as a teenager. It was there that he impressed Francis van Mechelen, sports director of Cannibal B Victorious team, who signed him up immediately after a tip-off from an unlikely source.
“It's quite a special story,” says Van Mechelen. “I was tipped off by an old Belgian fisherman who had settled in Ireland after finding the love of his life. He had seen Seth racing as an U-17 rider and told me about this talented young cyclist.”
Van Mechelen invited Dunwoody to Belgium for a race and was immediately impressed. The young rider took his first UCI victory for Cannibal B Victorious at 'Penn Ar Bed' in France, and it was clear that many more would follow.
“Even now that he's in the Bahrain Victorious Development Team, I still have frequent contact with Seth and the whole Dunwoody family. They are wonderful people, and I'm convinced he has a brilliant future ahead of him in professional cycling,” Van Mechelen added.
What has Dunwoody achieved this season?
Although he still has two years left at U-23 level, Dunwoody has already gained valuable experience with the WorldTour squad this year. He has competed in races including the AlUla Tour, Tour des Alpes-Maritimes, Classic Var, Ename Samyn Classic, Danilith Nokere Koerse and Ronde van Limburg.
Those appearances confirmed his ability to compete at the highest level and reinforced the management's belief that he is ready for the step up.
“Seth's promotion is a very important moment for our project because it shows that the pathway we have been building from Cannibal B Victorious through the Development Team to the WorldTour is working as we intended,” says Bahrain Victorious managing director Milan Erzen.
“We've always believed in developing young riders, step by step, giving them the right environment and time to grow, and Seth is a very good example of that philosophy. We are very happy that he has chosen to continue his career with Bahrain Victorious. We believe Seth has a very bright future ahead of him, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”
What does this mean for the young rider from Armagh?
Dunwoody crashed out of the recent U-23 Tour de France last week, but his disappointment has been tempered by the WorldTour contract. He is quick to acknowledge the support system that got him here.
“The bank of dad was the first and biggest sponsor I've ever had,” Dunwoody says of the support he received from his dad Glen and the rest of his family.
“As a junior, he was paying for flights and trips, everything. I'm blessed to share this achievement with my amazing family, who have supported my dream of becoming a WorldTour rider since I was eight years old and stepping into the WorldTour team feels like the natural next step after years of support from everyone involved.”
“It's an ambitious team with a strong roster and shared goals for success, which made my decision an easy one. This is only the beginning, and I'm excited to keep developing, working hard and hopefully achieving great things with Bahrain Victorious.”
For a young man from Armagh, this is more than a contract. It is a testament to the power of belief, family support and the simple kindness of a stranger who saw something special. As he prepares to take his place among the world's best, Dunwoody carries with him the hopes of a nation that loves a good underdog story. And this one is only just beginning.