Irish cycling was dealt a heavy blow today with the news that Paul Healion, set to take the start in the Tour of Ireland, was killed in a car accident last night.
The 31-year-old Dubliner was having his best season to date, earning his first stage victory in the FBD Insurance Rás this past May, and the national criterium championships in June.
Healion was alone in the car and the cause of the accident has not been determined.
Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism Martin Cullen said, “His untimely, sudden death in a week when everyone was looking forward to his performance in the opening stages of the Tour of Ireland makes it all the more poignant and difficult to come to terms with.”
Cullen knows the cyclist would have had “great expectations” for this weekend’s event, calling it his best season to date.