Northern Ireland isn’t exactly known for producing top-level cyclists, but that might be about to change. Seth Dunwoody put his name on the map by sprinting to victory in Stage 4 of the Giro Next Gen 2025, outsprinting a breakaway group of nine riders in a tight finish in Salsomaggiore Terme.
“I knew we were going to catch the two up front (Masciarelli and Basset), simply because we were flying. They would’ve needed diamonds in their legs to hold us off,” said Dunwoody after the stage. “I was confident going into the sprint, but also really nervous, because being in the mix for a win at the Next Gen in my first year in the category is something special. Today the only goal was to bring Omrzel safely to the finish, but this morning Jakob encouraged me to try the breakaway.
Towering at 192 cm, Dunwoody hails from Hamiltonsbawn and rides internationally for Ireland – riders from Northern Ireland can choose between representing the UK or the Republic of Ireland. He was just eight years old when the Giro d’Italia rolled through Northern Ireland in 2014, with Stage 3 starting in Armagh, just down the road from his hometown. “I don’t remember much – just that I asked Ben Swift for a photo, and Marcel Kittel, one of my favourite riders, won the stage. He had a riding style not too different from mine when he was younger.”
A 2006-born neo-pro in his debut season, Dunwoody is already showing the chops to one day ride the Giro d’Italia proper.”I started cycling because of that man right there – my dad, Glenn,” he said, nodding toward his father, who proudly followed the early stages of the race and was on hand today for his son’s big moment – his last day before heading home. Perfect timing. “I was just an amateur,” Glenn laughed. “When they told me I had to go on a diet and stop drinking if I wanted to improve, I quit right then.”
“I got my first road bike when I was 12, but honestly, I never thought I’d make it to this level,” Seth continued. “Then came the Froome and Geraint Thomas era. I watched them on TV and it fired me up. That’s when I decided to really commit, dreaming of racing the Giro and the Tour one day.”
In the days ahead, he’ll return to his primary role at this Giro Next Gen: supporting team leader Jakob Omrzel. “I really believe Jakob has the legs to fight for the Maglia Rosa.”
