Euro Champs: Xeno Young to Race for Bronze

Junior Rider Through to Bronze Medal Ride Off in Pursuit at European Championships in Italy

Irish rider Xeno Young has qualified for the Bronze Medal ride-off in the Junior Men’s Individual Pursuit at the UEC Track Juniors and U23 European Championships following his fourth place finish in the 3km race against the clock. The Co. Down rider is a first year junior and his time of 3.20.521 is 5 seconds faster than the existing national record of 3.25.429 which was set by Michael O’Loughlin in 2015. Young will meet Reece Wood (GB) in the race for bronze later today. Wood, a second year junior, posted a time of 3.19.386.

Ciara Doogan put in a strong performance in the Junior Women’s Individual Pursuit, finishing in 6^th place, with a time of 2.28.138. Nicole Gorry finished 13^th in the same event, and Luke Smith was 15^th in the same race as Young. In the Junior Women’s Sprint Shenna McKiverigan narrowly missed qualifying for the next round, finishing 9^th in a race where the top eight riders progressed. This afternoon will see Young race for bronze, while Smith and Cathal Purcell compete in the Junior Men’s Kilo event.

This weekend eleven Irish riders will compete in twenty four events in one of the major events in junior and U23 track cycling. The UEC Track Juniors and U23 European Championships take place in Montichiari Velodrome in the Brescia region of Italy, and run from the 12-17 July.