Megan Armitage

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Megan Armitage

| image = Grand_Prix_de_Chambéry_(Megan_Armitage_-_Montagne).JPG

| caption = Armitage in 2023

| fullname =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|08|12|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

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| height =

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| currentteam = {{UCI team code|EFC|2024}}

| discipline = Road

| role = Rider

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| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 =

| proyears1 = 2021–2022

| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|IBC|2021}}

| proyears2 = 2023

| proteam2 = {{UCI team code|ARK women|2023}}

| proyears3 = 2024–

| proteam3 = {{UCI team code|EFC|2024}}

| majorwins =

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}}

Megan Armitage (born 12 August 1996) is an Irish racing cyclist, who rides for UCI Women's Continental Team {{UCI team code|EFC|2024}}.{{cite web|url= https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/megan-armitage#google_vignette |title=Megan Armitage|website=procyclingstats|access-date=July 24, 2024}}

Early life

From Offaly, Armitage was a marathon runner while studying law and French at University College Dublin, and started cycling seriously during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|date=22 July 2024|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/team-ireland/2024/0719/1460798-megan-armitage/|website=RTE|accessdate=24 July 2024|title=Megan Armitage}}

Career

=2023=

She became the first Irish female to win a UCI-ranked stage race with her GC victory at the {{ill|Vuelta Extremadura Féminas|de}} in March 2023.{{cite web|date=4 April 2023|url= https://www.cyclingireland.ie/news-item/history-maker-megan-armitage-on-2023-plans-and-advice-to-young-riders-/#:~:text=Megan%20Armitage%20(Picture%3A%20Arkea%20Pro%20Cycling%20Team%2FAubin%20Kipke)&text=The%2026-year-old%20became,Extremaduras%20Feminas%20on%20March%2012th.|website=Cycling Ireland|accessdate=24 July 2024|title= History Maker Megan Armitage On 2023 Plans And Advice To Young Riders}} She was selected by {{UCI team code|ARK women|2023}} to ride the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, however she had to pull-out after a crash shortly before the grand start that involved a concussion after a head-on collision with a bus.{{cite web|title=Heartbreak for Megan Armitage, ruled out of Tour de France Femmes|website=Sticky Bottle|accessdate=24 July 2024|url= https://www.stickybottle.com/races-results/heartbreak-for-megan-armitage-ruled-out-of-tour-de-france-femmes/|date=21 July 2023}}{{cite web|website=Independent.ie|url=https://m.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/megan-armitage-ruled-out-of-tour-de-france-after-suffering-concussion-in-head-on-collision/a1982260247.html|title= Megan Armitage ruled out of Tour de France after suffering concussion in head-on collision|accessdate=24 July 2024|date=21 July 2023|first=Ciaran|last=Lennon}}

She rode for Team Ireland at the 2023 UCI World Championships in Glasgow in August 2023.{{cite web|website=Sticky Bottle|accessdate=24 July 2024|url=https://www.stickybottle.com/races-results/megan-armitage-hits-ground-running-on-return-to-european-pro-peloton/|title= Megan Armitage hits ground running on return to European pro peloton|date=28 August 2023}} She finished fifth overall at the AG Tour de la Semois in Belgium in September 2023.{{cite web|website=Irish Times|first=Shane|last=Stokes|url= https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/cycling/2023/09/18/megan-armitage-withdraws-from-european-championships-with-fiona-mangan-to-take-place/|title= Megan Armitage withdraws from European Championships with Fiona Mangan to take her place|date=18 September 2023}}

=2024=

She signed for UCI Women's Continental Team {{UCI team code|EFC}}, on a three-year contract, ahead of the 2024 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/cycling/2024/01/19/im-feeling-really-good-megan-armitage-raring-to-go-as-new-season-dawns/|title="I'm feeling really good" - Megan Armitage rating to go as new season dawns|date=19 February 2024|website=Irish Times|accessdate=24 July 2024}} {{cite web|url= https://www.stickybottle.com/blog/megan-armitage-is-first-irish-rider-in-european-pro-race-action/|website=Sticky Bottle|date=19 January 2024|title= Megan Armitage is first Irish rider in European pro race action|access-date=24 July 2024}} She was selected to ride the Giro d'Italia Women in July 2024,{{cite web|url=https://www.stickybottle.com/blog/irelands-megan-armitage-picked-for-grand-tour-debut-with-ef-cannondale/|website=Sticky Bottle|accessdate=24 July 2024|date=5 July 2024|title= Ireland's Megan Armitage picked for Grand Tour debut with EF-Cannondale}} However, she was unable to start the race due to sickness.{{cite web|url= https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/megan-armitage-misses-out-on-giro-ditalia-start-due-to-illness/ |website=Sticky Bottle|accessdate=24 July 2024|date=7 July 2024|title= Megan Armitage misses out on Giro d'Italia start due to illness}}

In July 2024, she was selected for the Irish team to compete in the road race at the 2024 Paris Olympics.{{cite web|website=The Independent|accessdate=24 July 2024|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/ireland-tokyo-louvre-eiffel-tower-b2582594.html|title=Cycling trio complete squad as Ireland take largest-ever team to Paris Olympics|date=20 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.offalyindependent.ie/2024/07/19/offaly-road-cyclist-announced-as-team-ireland-olympian/|website=Offaly Independent|accessdate=24 July 2024|title=Offaly road cyclist announced as Team Ireland Olympian|date=19 July 2024}}