Irish cycling mourns 16-year-old prospect Shane O’Brien as brother Liam leaves Giro Next Gen after training crash

Irish cycling is mourning 16-year-old Shane O’Brien, a rising junior talent from Co Cork who died after a training crash in Co Waterford on Tuesday.

O’Brien had already taken major steps in 2026, his first season as a junior. He had earned selection for the Irish junior team at Course de la Paix Juniors, raced abroad with CAMS Majaco, and shown enough promise to be regarded as one of the country’s most exciting young riders.

His older brother Liam O’Brien, who rides for Lidl-Trek Future Racing, was competing at the Giro Next Gen when the news emerged. He has since left the race to return home to his family.

The collision happened shortly after 11am on Tuesday on the N72 at Ballygalane, just outside Lismore. O’Brien was training on his time trial bike when he was involved in a collision with a parked lorry. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

O’Brien began cycling with Fermoy Cycling Club and had moved into the junior ranks this year after a strong spell in the youth categories. His progress was clear almost immediately. On the opening day of the Irish road season, he finished second in the Lacey Cup in Co Kerry despite stepping straight from U16 racing into competition against senior C1 riders.

He later made his Irish junior team debut at Course de la Paix Juniors in the Czech Republic, racing alongside Fionn Killeen, James Logue, George Sevastopulo and Caleb McGreevy at the Junior UCI Nations Cup event. He had also secured a place with CAMS Majaco, the British junior team linked to the INEOS Grenadiers development pathway.

Cycling Ireland said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news of his death. “Shane was well known and loved in the cycling community. He recently made his national team debut at Course de la Paix in the Czech Republic and had shown great promise as an emerging talent,” Cycling Ireland said. “Shane will be missed dearly by all in the cycling community in Ireland. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and teammates at this time of tragic loss. May he rest in peace.”

CAMS Majaco also paid tribute to O’Brien, describing him as a rider with “a bright future ahead of him”. “Shane was a talented rider who had a bright future ahead of him, and was a kind-hearted, gentle and positive young man. We were honoured to have him as a member of the team and he will be forever in our hearts,” the team said. “Our thoughts at this devastating time are with his family, friends, teammates and all who were lucky enough to know him.”

Liam O’Brien had been racing the Giro Next Gen in Italy with Lidl-Trek Future Racing. The organisers confirmed that he had left the race following his brother’s death.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to Liam O’Brien and his family, as Shane O’Brien, Liam’s brother passed away yesterday,” the Giro Next Gen organisers said. “Liam has left the race, to be with his family in this time of mourning. The Giro Next Gen sends their love and support in these difficult times.”

Shane O’Brien’s promise was not limited to the road. He had also impressed in cyclocross, with his fastest laps at the opening round of the National Cyclocross Series in Belfast last October quicker than any recorded across the day, including in the senior men’s event.

In recent months, he had travelled to France, Belgium and Britain with CAMS Majaco, gaining international experience during his first junior season. Earlier this month, he raced the Cote d’Or Classic in France, finishing 36th overall and 10th in the young rider classification.

Garda Forensic Collision Investigators examined the scene in Co Waterford after Tuesday’s crash. Gardaí have appealed for witnesses, including anyone with camera footage from the N72 between Lismore and Cappoquin between 10.30am and 11.15am on Tuesday morning.

The thoughts of everyone involved with CyclingUpToDate go out to the family of Liam O'Brien and all who knew him.