Ireland’s track cycling team battle for Olympic Qualification
Ireland’s track cycling squad are back in action this weekend for round 4 of the UCI Track World Cup Series in Cambridge, New Zealand.
Last weekend saw several positive results posted at the Hong Kong World Cup which advance Ireland’s Olympic qualification ambitions.
Lydia Boylan and Lydia Gurley finished 8th in the Women's Madison and remain two places inside the Olympic qualification zone, further extending their lead over nearest rivals Japan.
Men's Madison pairing Mark Downey and Felix English posted an impressive 7th place finish which saw them narrow the gap to Hong Kong, who hold the final Olympic qualification slot. The deficit to Hong Kong now stands at 430 points with Portugal also ahead in the rankings with a 160-point advantage.
Downey and English beat teams from both Hong Kong and Portugal last weekend and will be aiming for another strong showing to narrow the gap with three World Cups and the UCI Track Cycling World Championships remaining before qualification is decided.
IRELAND SQUAD (UCI Elite Track Cycling World Cup, New Zealand, December 6th – 8th)
Men’s Madison: Mark Downey, Felix English. Men’s Scratch: Fintan Ryan. Women’s Madison: Lydia Gurley, Emily Kay. Women’s Omnium: Lydia Boylan. Women’s Scratch: Lydia Gurley. Women’s Sprint: Robyn Stewart. Women’s Keirin: Robyn Stewart.
Live timing and results HERE
Olympic Qualification Rankings HERE
Olympic Qualification Criteria HERE
Track Cycling Events Explained
Madison
Teams of two riders take part in this relay race contested by means of intermediary sprints (every 10 laps). While one team member races, the other slows down to take a rest before being thrown back into the action with a hand sling from his/her teammate. The classification is calculated according to the number of points won. As with the points race, any team that gains a lap on the main bunch is awarded 20 points, while any team that is lapped by the bunch has 20 points deducted. Points awarded in the last sprint after the full distance are doubled (10 points, 6 points, 4 points, 2 points).
Omnium
Formerly made up of 6 events disputed over 2 consecutive days, this year the Omnium will comprise four endurance events raced on the same day: Scratch race, tempo race, elimination and points race. Riders must show consistency throughout the day to have a chance of topping the final classification.
The tempo race is new to the Omnium, and its rules are similar to those of the points race. After the first five laps, intermediate sprints occur every lap with one point awarded to the first rider. Riders also gain points for lapping the main bunch, while riders caught by the main peloton must leave the track and lose all their points.
Scratch
This is a mass-start race for individual riders over 15km for men and 10km for women. The first lap is neutralised.
Keirin
Riders follow in the slipstream of a pacing motorbike for 750m before undertaking a three-lap sprint to the end. The motorbike gradually increases the speed from 30 to 50 km/h before pulling off the track to allow the sprint to begin.
Sprint
Qualification 200m time trials are followed by knockout heats of 3 laps that select the best two riders to line up against each other in the final. Riders sometimes come to a standstill to make their opponent take the lead – the least advantageous position before the final sprint to the finish line.